Shamrock Rovers defender Ethan Boyle has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for the crucial European Championship qualifier against Germany on Tuesday evening.

Noel King's men are two points behind the Group Five leaders and can go top with two games to play should they pull off a victory at Tallaght Stadium [6pm].

That would be no mean feat against a an extremely good side, but King has challenged his charges to embrace the chance to prove their own quality.

"If we were to beat Germany, which is the intention and the aim, we'd go a point clear with two games to go. That would be unbelievable," he told RTÉ Sport.

"If the lads can perform against them nobody can say it's a fluke. It's a high level and it's a level they want to test themselves at.

"If we got a draw it's still in our own hands. We have to to work together and combine all the talent in the group and try and to the very best we can to keep them at bay."

Ireland drew 1-1 in Kosovo last Friday thanks to Ronan Curtis's late leveller. They still have to travel to Germany and also go to Israel in their final group game. 

If Ireland finish as one of the four best second-placed teams they'll go into the play-offs, which consist of semi-finals and a final for a place in next summer's finals in Italy and San Marino.

Those play-offs would take place in November. 

"It was a very, very long journey to go out there," King said of the Kosovo game.

"It took us nearly 24 hours, two flights, a bus journey. It was quite warm. It was a decent result out there. They're back refreshed. 

"Kosovo had beaten Norway and draw in with Germany out there. The point keeps us up there; it's in our own hands with three games to go."

Cork City defender Sean McLoughlin and Yeovil's Shaun Donnellan, who missed the trip to Kosovo through injury, have been added to the squad, along with Boyle.

Curtis has been called into Martin O'Neill's senior set-up for the friendly, though he would have missed the game through suspension anyway.

"Ronan has put in some marvelous performances for ourselves," King said of the Portsmouth attacker.

"We're all delighted to see another player going into the fray. He's got his move to Portsmouth [from Derry City] and hes blown people away over there.

"We hope he does well. I've no doubt you'll be hearing about Ronan for the next couple of years, that's for sure."

Republic of Ireland U21 squad (v Germany)

Goalkeepers: Kieran O'Hara (Manchester United, loan Macclesfield Town), Liam Bossin (Nottingham Forest).

Defenders: Danny Kane (Cork City FC, loan AFC Fylde), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Conor Shaughnessy (Leeds United), Ryan Delaney (Rochdale), Corey Whelan (Liverpool, loan Crewe Alexandra), Sean McLoughlin (Cork City), Shaun Donnellan (Yeovil Town) Ethan Boyle (Shamrock Rovers).

Midfielders: Jake Mulraney (Hearts), Jamie McGrath (Dundalk), Ryan Manning (QPR, loan Rotherham United), Harry Charsley (Everton), Josh Cullen (West Ham United, loan Charlton Athletic), Rory Hale (Derry City).

Forwards: Joe Quigley (Maidstone), Reece Grego-Cox (Crawley Town), Ronan Hale (Birmingham City, loan Derry City).