Stephen Kenny looks set to cast the net wide and unleash some of Ireland’s emerging youngsters as he begins life as the Under-21 manager.
Ireland face a tough task as they attempt to qualify for the Euros in 2021, named in a group with five-time champions Italy, and Kenny would not rule out calling on potential star players like Troy Parrott from Tottenham or Norwich City striker Adam Idah.
Idah does not turn 18 until February, but is making a major impact at Carrow Road with the Under-23 side, while remarkably, Parrott, a full year younger than his fellow forward, has been training with the first team at Spurs and manager Mauricio Pochettino said recently that he may play first team football sooner rather than later.
Kenny appeared somewhat frustrated at the lack of Ireland Under-21 players playing first team football when speaking to the press at the FAI headquarters, and the manager admitted that he would not rule out any player, as long as they are Irish.
"It is something that we have to consider," said Kenny when asked might he fast-track Parrott and Idah up to Under-21 level.
"It is early to make statements as to who is going to be in the squad. Form over the next few weeks [counts].
"I was at Spurs versus Liverpool Under-23 match in Stevenage a couple of weeks’ ago and Troy just came on for the last few minutes of that.
"So it is premature to suggest who we are going to pick at this moment for the first squad in March, but there is no doubt that they are players of high potential."
Both players have played for Ireland at underage level, but Kenny did offer a certain amount of caution in relation to anyone who is making the step up to Under-21 standard.
"This is a great opportunity for all of the players in this campaign. To play for Ireland is an absolutely huge honour, even at Under-21 level, a huge honour.
"Some of them would have been involved with Under-17 and Under-19 campaigns but it is a big step up when you get to Under-21.
"For example, when you play Sweden, they will have a lot of players playing with Swedish Premier Division clubs and likewise with the Italian teams, they will have players playing in the Serie A."
Kenny will not name his squad until closer to the opening qualifier against Luxembourg but is taking a good look at the talent available in the League of Ireland and up north in the Premiership, assembling a home-based training camp for February.
The former Dundalk manager is not offering any assurances to the players that he will be very familiar with, considering his background in the League of Ireland, but he obviously sees the value of taking a "closer look" at the league’s best young players.
"It gives you an opportunity to work with the players and get an idea of their mentality and where they are themselves. A closer look.
"I’ll promote players that are Irish, I think that is the bottom line.
"I don’t have preconceived prejudices on where I should [look]. For example, there are some players who are going on loan to Holland at the moment and there is a player in Italy and Germany.
"I don’t have a directive, I don’t have a determined plan."
.@CorkTOD reports from FAI headquarters in Abbotstown as Republic of Ireland U-21 manager Stephen Kenny names his first training squad pic.twitter.com/IPwJVQS0bI
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) January 24, 2019
Recent campaigns have seen a reliance on cross-channel players at Under-21 level, and following the Jack Grealish situation, where he was the Under-21 player of the year, before opting to declare for England, and the ongoing Declan Rice situation, with the West Ham youngster taking time to decide who to play for, there has been a clamour to tread carefully when bringing future Ireland-qualified players through.
But while Kenny did mention he would be looking to select "Irish" players, he certainly did not indicate that they had to be Irish-born.
"I think I will make my own decision. That won’t be my main objective. Getting players qualified is not one of my main objectives.
"My main objectives is to pick the best players for the campaign, the players that I think have the most potential for the future and try and nurture and develop them into a cohesive team that enjoys playing for Ireland and wants to play for Ireland more than anything and can play to a high level."
