Soccer:The Republic of Ireland under-21s have been forced into making four changes for the upcoming European Championship qualifying games against Switzerland and Turkey on September 3rd and 7th respectively.
James McCarthy, Aaron Doran and Stephen Gleeson have all been ruled out through injury while Cillian Sheridan has been called into the senior squad for Ireland’s first two matches in the European Championship qualifying campaign.
Adam Rooney, Richie Towell, Graham Carey and Robbie Brady have been drafted into the panel, meaning Manchester United’s Brady and Celtic’s Towell could potentially earn their first caps at this level.
The side can no longer qualify for the European Championship finals in Denmark next year and will be without manager Noel King for the upcoming games as he is managing the Womens’ Under-17 squad at the World Cup finals.
FAI International high performance director Wim Koevermans will oversee the squad in King’s absence.
Anthony Stokes, who will lead the line having missed out on a place in the senior squad, looks set to seal a transfer from Hibernian to Celtic for a reported fee of €1.5 million.
It is the second time that the Glasgow club have tried to sign Stokes, who has been capped three times for the Ireland senior squad, having initially lost out to Sunderland in the race for the striker’s signature in January 2007.
Stokes, originally an Arsenal player was loaned to Falkirk before his move to Sunderland. He was subsequently loaned out to Sheffield United and Crystal Palace before completing a permanent transfer to Hibs. The striker scored 22 goals in 40 games at Easter Road last year.
Republic of Ireland under-21 squad:Stephen Henderson, Shane Redmond, Seamus Coleman, Eddie Nolan, Gavin Gunning, Brendan Moloney, Rob Kiernan, Lanre Oyebanjo, Richie Towell, Conor Hourihane, Owen Garvan, Graham Carey, Conor Clifford, Alan Judge, Robbie Brady, Adam Rooney, Anthony Stokes, Joe Mason.