The Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad for the two upcoming UEFA Under-21 European Championship qualifying matches against Montenegro and Bulgaria has been announced.
The squad includes three players new to the Republic of Ireland Under-21 set-up, John Joe O’Toole of Watford, Burnley’s Chris McCann and Keith Treacy of Blackburn Rovers.
Treacy has been called into the Under-21 squad before but injuries have prevented him from linking-up with the squad. For O'Toole and McCann, however, this represents their first call-ups to the Under-21 squad.
Ireland will play Montenegro in the Podgorica City Stadium on Friday 16 November before returning home to face Bulgaria in Lissywoollen Stadium, Athlone on Tuesday 20 November.
The squad will be managed by Sean McCaffrey for the match against Montenegro due to Don Givens' role as caretaker senior manager.
Don Givens said: 'It is quite a settled squad, much the same as for the last couple of games, but we do have two new players. JJ O'Toole is playing in a Watford side that is top of the Championship, so he has the potential to be a very good player for us.
'Chris McCann is another midfielder new to the squad. He has been involved with Ireland at other age levels but this is his first call-up to the Under-21 panel. He is a good player and he deserves a chance at this level.'
Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad: Darren Randolph, Darren Quigley, Eddie Nolan, Richard Keogh, Darren O’Dea, Michael Spillane, Stephen Gleeson, Conor Powell, JJ O’Toole, Stephen O’Halloran, Owen Garvan, Stephen Quinn, Chris McCann, Jim O’Brien, Adam Rooney, Anthony Stokes, Conor Sammon, Keith Treacy, Billy Clarke
