Jim Crawford selects Ireland’s U21 squad for next week’s European Championship qualifier against Italy and Sweden
Ireland’s U21 coach Jim Crawford has appointed a 25-man squad for two home UEFA U21 European Championship qualifiers against Italy and Sweden next week.
The announcement of the team means that Gavin Kilkenny has not received a call-up to the Irish senior squad for next week’s matches with Portugal and Luxembourg.
Despite a number of impressive efforts in midfield for Championship leaders Bournemouth in recent times, Crawford has selected Kilkenny in his group for the team’s UEFA Euro 2023 Championship qualifiers against Italy and Sweden in ten days.
Maybe Stephen Kenny will surprise us all tomorrow when he appoints the senior panel for their matches, but you can imagine that the two bosses had a chat before these troops were decided.
West Ham United’s Armstrong Oko-Flex gets a first call to U21 while Southampton’s Will Smallbone and Derby County’s Festy Ebosele return to the squad after injury.
Ryan Johannson, now with Fortuna Sittard in the Netherlands, is also recalled to the panel that will try to get their qualifying campaign back on track next week, after the disappointing loss against Montenegro last month.
“Armstrong is an exciting talent for us,” said Crawford. “He can play on both wings or through the middle and I look forward to working with him. He is a guy we have been keeping an eye on for a while.
“I’m glad Gavin’s still with us. If you had asked me three years ago, I would have seen Gavin in the kind of central midfield role he plays for his club now, I would honestly say ‘no’.
“But Scott Parker at Bournemouth has obviously seen something in him and the players are improving so fast when they start running in a first team and Gavin will be a great player for us.”
Of course, Crawford is trying to lead his team to a historic first Irish qualifier ever for this tournament with a hand tied behind his back.
Players such as goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, midfielder Andrew Obomamidele and strikers Adam Idah and Troy Parrott will certainly be in Kenny’s squad tomorrow – even though they are young enough to line up for this U-21 team.
Ireland meet Italy at Tallaght Stadium on Friday 12 November before receiving Sweden four days later, on Tuesday 16 November.
Tickets for both European Championship qualifiers are now on sale with admission for both games for € 15 for adults, € 8 for children and € 30 for a family ticket (two adults and two children).
Ireland’s U21 team
Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (Bray Wanderers), David Odumosu (Drogheda United), Luke McNicholas (Cliftonville, on loan from Sligo Rovers)
Defender: Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Festy Ebosele (Derby County), Andy Lyons (Bohemians), Oisin McEntee (Greenock Morton, on loan from Newcastle United), Mark McGuinness (Cardiff City), Jake O’Brien (Crystal Palace), Lee O ‘Connor (Tranmere Rovers, on loan from Celtic)
Midfielder: Conor Coventry (Peterborough United, on loan from West Ham United) Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Ryan Johansson (Fortuna Sittard, on loan from Sevilla), Gavin Kilkenny (Bournemouth), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Conor Noss (Borussia Möchengladbach)) , Will Smallbone (Southampton), Ross Tierney (Bohemians)
Forward: Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Ferry (Crawley Town, on loan from Southampton), Joshua ‘JJ’ Kayode (Rotherham United), Liam Kerrigan (UCD), Armstrong Oko-Flex (West Ham United), Colm Whelan (UCD) ), Tyreik Wright (Salford City, on loan from Aston Villa)
2022 UEFA U21 European Championship Qualifiers
Friday 12 November: Ireland vs. Italy, Tallaght Stadium (KO 17.30) – Live on RTÉ2
Tuesday 16 November: Ireland against Sweden, Tallaght Stadium (KO 19:00) – Live on RTÉ2