Heimir Hallgrimsson believes the Republic of Ireland's newest face Millenic Alli will bring a "different perspective" to the squad due to his late-bloomer status.
The 26-year-old winger was added to the squad three days after the Boys in Green's agonising World Cup play-off semi-final defeat to Czechia.
The call-up for the Portsmouth loanee has come amid injuries to Sammie Szmodics and Robbie Brady, as well as Jack Taylor having to return home to tend to his ill wife.
But even so, Alli had been in contention for a spot in the original 25-man squad based on his recent body of work at club level, according to Hallgrimsson.
"Millenic Alli was very close to being selected fo the first squad," said the Ireland manager ahead of tonight's friendly against North Macedonia at Aviva Stadium.
The Dublin-born player has taken the long road towards this maiden involvement at international level, having never been selected in the Irish underage ranks.
Raised in Lucan, his formative years took him through clubs like Esker Celtic and St Francis.
In the era prior to Brexit restrictions coming into place for Irish players under the age of 18, Alli then moved to English side Bury FC's academy aged 14.
However, by his late teens he was having to forge a path through the English non-league via clubs like South Shields, Ashton United, Stockport County, Halifax Town and loans at Workington and Chorley.
It was the Halifax Town spell and the preceding loan at Chorley from Stockport that saw his game-time rise dramatically and ultimately led to a move to the Football League.
The landing spot was at Exeter City in January 2024 where he went on to score 16 goals in 43 games across all competitions for the League One club.
The following January, he was signed by Luton Town when they were still in the Championship and three months ago, he returned to the English second tier after Portsmouth signed him on loan in another winter transfer.
He has started all 14 Pompey games he has been available for in the Championship, doing enough to impress Hallgrimsson.
"Interesting player in many ways, a late bloomer," Hallgrimsson said.
"His route to where he is today is unique. We thought it was a good time to call him in. I don't know if we will play him (against North Macedonia) but we want to take a look at him and see what kind of person he is and what kind of character he has.
"It is good for him as well to get a sniff of the camp and how we do things. Get to know the players.
"Interesting player, physically strong, fast, skilfull and he has been doing really well for Portsmouth and hopefully this will help him to grow. He is not a 17, 18-year-old. It is good to see a player developing this late and progressing this fast at his age. Interesting player we want to get to know better."
While the Icelandic native has still to get to know the winger, he anticipates that Alli's long years away from the top level and previous lack of international recognition will have stood him in good stead.
"I think he himself probably has a different perspective on everything - at this age being selected for the first time, he was not involved in the youth national teams for Ireland - and now he gets the call-up," he told RTÉ Sport.
"Just looking at it from his perspective, his journey through non-league teams to being where he is today and having a call-up probably helps him to continue to grow.
"I'm just looking forward to working with him because I can’t say much about him because I don’t know him much as a person, only the kind of meeting I always have with a newcomer, just telling him what we want to achieve and how we’re going to achieve it. But first impressions are really good.
"He had a really tough three training days before we called him up so we didn’t want him to train yesterday, a recommendation from the club.
"So that’s his first training now today so I probably don’t get to see him much as a player but it’s good to get to know him as a person."
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