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Mason Melia and Joe Hodge ruled out of Republic of Ireland Under-21s double-header

Mason Melia will not be making his under-21s debut this month
Mason Melia will not be making his under-21s debut this month

Mason Melia and Joe Hodge have both been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland Under-21s Euro 2025 qualifying double-header against Norway and Italy.

Melia, 17, was called into the squad for the first time for this international window, after a string of impressive performances for St Patrick's Athletic this season.

Captain Hodge also misses out on second-placed Ireland's final two games in Group A, as they look to secure qualification for the tournament in Slovakia next summer.

"Joe Hodge and Mason Melia have been ruled out of Ireland Under-21s' qualifiers against Norway and Italy this coming week," said an FAI statement.

"After assessments by the Ireland medical team, both players won’t play a part in the upcoming games due to pre-existing injuries picked-up ahead of the squad meeting on Sunday evening."

Jim Crawford's Ireland side have two points to spare on Norway ahead of Friday's meeting at Turner's Cross, and victory would take the hosts to within a point of Italy, before a showdown with the leaders in Trieste on Tuesday.

The winners of the group will qualify automatically for the Euros, with the runners-up facing a play-off.

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