This afternoon, Ireland manager Stephen Kenny named his squad for next week’s crucial World Cup qualifiers versus Serbia and Luxembourg. 12 Under 21’s have been included, a sign that the pathway Kenny has highlighted is beginning to bear fruit. The squad will meet in Manchester on Sunday before flying out to Belgrade on Monday.
19-year-old Gavin Bazunu earned his first senior call-up. Bazunu, currently on loan at Rochdale, featured at U21 level under Stephen Kenny. With Darren Randolph out injured, Caoimhin Kelleher, Mark Travers and Kieran O’Hara have also been selected.
Kenny made clear today that Liverpool’s Kelleher is first choice to replace Randolph, and eventually succeed him, “Caoimhin has played 10 U21 internationals for me and he was brilliant. He played 5 games for Liverpool this year, 2 in the Champions League, so he is used to big games and it won’t be an issue for him”. That said Kelleher’s fitness is still touch and go following an abdominal injury. Kenny said that this will be assessed ahead of Wednesday. Sheffield Wednesday’s Kieran Westwood missed out through injury but told Kenny that he will be available in the future.
In the back line, there were call ups for Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Matt Doherty, Enda Stevens, Kevin Long, Ciaran Clark, Dara O’Shea, Ryan Manning, and Cyrus Christie. Although Stephen Kenny defended Duffy’s recent form at Celtic, he also assured supporters that no one’s place is certain. “No one in the squad is an automatic starter, I have no problem leaving anybody out. Shane had a tough year, he knows that, but he has never let Ireland down, he leaves everything on the line for the team”. Supporters will also be keen to see if Kenny changes to a back 3 and deploy Doherty as a wing back, with Coleman now available for Kenny. Ciaran Clark’s recent performances for Newcastle have been rewarded with a call up, his first since 2019.
In midfield, Conor Hourihane’s terrific form for Swansea has earned him a call-up, after bagging 5 goals and an assist since his move to Wales. Alan Browne, Jeff Hendrick, Jayson Molumby and Jason Knight were all included. Josh Cullen’s recent performances for Anderlecht have earned him a spot, 18 months on from his debut versus Bulgaria.
Ireland’s lack of goals last year was a huge thorn in Stephen Kenny’s side. Perhaps with this mind, he has named 10 attackers to help his side find the net next week. James McClean is included although he has missed Stokes' last 6 games with a foot injury. Robbie Brady, Daryl Horgan, Ronan Curtis, and Callum O’Dowda were all selected. Aaron Connolly is called up despite a recent fractured rib . “I think he’ll be ok; he’s resumed training and we are hopeful that we’ll have him next week” Kenny told reporters today. Shane Long, James Collins and Troy Parrott make up the remainder, with Parrott scoring his first senior goal for Millwall last weekend. That said Kenny told the media today that Parrott will not start versus Serbia. After scoring just 1 goal in 2020, Ireland’s forwards will need to start clicking if we are to have any chance of qualifying for Qatar.
Although Kenny is without John Egan, Adam Idah, James McCarthy, Jack Byrne, and Harry Arter, he is looking forward to next week's crucial qualifiers. “The World Cup is special, we have not qualified since 2002, Serbia is an interesting start, but we’ve got to go there and try get a result.” Eager to move on from a difficult 2020, Kenny appears to relish the challenge of Serbia away, “We saw contrasting performances from Serbia, they’re a good team but haven't always been the most consistent”.
Ireland play Serbia in Belgrade next Wednesday at 7:45PM, before hosting Luxembourg at the Aviva on Saturday night. The final game of this window is a friendly on March 30th when Ireland face Qatar in Budapest.