Strike duo Daryl Murphy and Conor Sammon have been named in a 37-man provisional Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany next month.
There is no place in the squad for David McGoldrick, who has been waiting for the paperwork relating to his Irish qualification to come through, but manager Martin O’Neill confirmed that he is in his plans.
"There’s a genuine connection,” O’Neill said at a press conference this morning. "We’re chasing that up at the minute.
"I watched him last night on TV. He’s definitely got ability and is one of those of players I think over the next few months and certainly the next year that will certainly come to the fore.”
The 26-year-old was also watched by Ireland scout Steve Guppy during the Blues’ 2-0 home victory over Millwall.
Murphy recently won his 12th full cap when he came on as a sub in the 2-0 friendly victory over Oman in Dublin, while loanee Sammon, who scored his first goal for Town in last night’s 2-1 win at Wigan, has previously appeared nine times at international level. Ex-Blues Damien Delaney, Jon Walters and Paul Green are also in the squad.
O’Neill and Roy Keane’s final squad will meet up on Tuesday 7th October before they take on Gibraltar in Dublin on Saturday 11th October, then Germany at Gelsenkirchen three days later.
Republic of Ireland: David Forde (Millwall), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Darren Randolph (Birmingham), Rob Elliot (Newcastle), Richard Keogh (Derby), Marc Wilson (Stoke), Seamus Coleman (Everton), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Alex Pearce (Reading), Stephen Kelly (Reading), Paul McShane (Hull), Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace), Shane Duffy (Everton), James McCarthy (Everton), Jeff Hendrick (Derby), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Glenn Whelan (Stoke), Darron Gibson (Everton), Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest), Paul Green (Rotherham), Aiden McGeady (Everton), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff), James McClean (Wigan), Robbie Brady (Hull City), Stephen Quinn (Hull City), David Meyler (Hull City), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich), Robbie Keane (Los Angeles Galaxy), Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich), Jon Walters (Stoke), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Anthony Stokes (Celtic), Simon Cox (Reading), Conor Sammon (Ipswich).