Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has recalled Shane Duffy and Aaron Connolly to his 25-man squad for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2024 qualifiers against France and the Netherlands.
Ireland will report to camp on Sunday, September 3 ahead of a busy week of action with the squad set to travel to Paris to take on France at the Parc des Princes on Thursday, 7 September. The squad will then return home to a sold-out Aviva Stadium for the Netherlands fixture on Sunday, 10 September.
Defender Duffy comes back into the squad for the first time since September 2022. The 31-year old, who has 55 caps and seven goals for Ireland, joined Norwich City in the summer and has enjoyed a positive early start to the season with the Canaries.
Striker Aaron Connolly receives his first call-up to the senior squad in almost two years after his impressive early season form for Hull City, where he has scored three goals.
The last of Connolly's eight international caps came in the 4-0 international friendly win over Qatar in October 2021 and he lined out with the U21s last season.
Luton Town's Chiedozie Ogbene returns to the squad after missing the summer internationals through injury.
Uncapped Festy Ebosele receives his first senior call-up since June 2022 after impressing for Udinese in the Italian Serie A whilst Southampton's Ryan Manning, Stoke City's Enda Stevens and Preston North End's Will Keane also come back into the squad.
Manning had two assists for Southampton at the weekend. His last international appearance was the 1-0 friendly win over Lithuania in March 2022.
Defender Matt Doherty is suspended for the match against France following his two-game suspension for the red card against Greece in June but will return for the Netherlands fixture and will report for international duty on Sunday.
Captain Seamus Coleman (knee), Celtic's Mikey Johnston (back) and Burnley’s Michael Obafemi (hamstring) are all injured.
Recent Excelsior Rotterdam loanee Troy Parrott, Cardiff City winger Callum O'Dowda and Duffy's fellow Norwich defender Andrew Omobamidele are among the most notable omissions. The former duo both saw game time in June.
Mark Sykes (Bristol City), Liam Scales (Celtic), Jack Taylor (Peterborough United) also miss out having been named in the previous squad.
101-cap international James McClean (34) retains his place following his move to League Two Wrexham.
France boss Didier Deschamps also named his squad today, which does not feature World Cup winners N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba.
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Stoke City, on loan from AFC Bournemouth).
Defenders: Matt Doherty* (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Festy Ebosele (Udinese), Enda Stevens (Stoke City), Ryan Manning (Southampton), James McClean (Wrexham), Shane Duffy (Norwich City), John Egan (Sheffield United), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Burnley), Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough)
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen).
Forwards: Adam Idah (Norwich City), Will Keane (Preston North End), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Aaron Connolly (Hull City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town).
Watch France v Republic of Ireland on 7 June and Ireland v Netherlands on 10 June live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, listen live on RTÉ Radio and follow updates on RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News app
