Republic of Ireland squad training:  A day after helping the Republic of Ireland under-21 side to a 3-0 win over Azerbaijan in Kilkenny, in the Uefa Championship preliminary round, Luton Town's Kevin Foley and Brentford's Jay Tabb were called up to the senior squad which left Dublin yesterday for four days in the Algarve ahead of Wednesday's game against Chile at Lansdowne Road.

Foley, who scored one of the goals at Buckley Park that gave Ireland a 5-1 win on aggregate, has had an impressive season at full back for Luton, where he came up through the youth ranks, prompting a flurry of transfer gossip linking him with a move to several Premiership clubs, including Tottenham and Aston Villa.

"I was told by Don Givens on Thursday that there was a spot available in the senior squad for their match against Chile and he had recommended me to join," said Foley yesterday. "He asked if I was doing much after the Azerbaijan game and I told him I wasn't. I literally jumped at the chance to join and was on the phone to my mum and dad straight away, who were just as surprised as I was."

"It's a 30-man squad so although I may not get the chance to be involved in the match, it is a dream come true to be selected. I will know a few of the players, such as Jay Tabb and Stephen Kelly, from the under-21 set-up, but hopefully it will give me the chance to learn a lot from some great players who play in the Premiership. I haven't had much rest since the season finished, and I will probably get about three weeks' relaxation in total, but I'm not complaining, I'm just really looking forward to this now."

Tabb, who made his under-21 debut with Foley against Scotland two years ago, had a frustrating end to the club season when Brentford's hopes of promotion from League One were ended by Swansea City at the semi-final stage of the play-offs.

As a result the player, who was born in London but qualifies to play for Ireland through his Irish mother, handed in a transfer request, one that was accepted by manager Martin Allen who acknowledged Tabb's "desire to play at a higher level".

Although Tabb, who can play in midfield or up front, is now out of contract at Brentford the club will be entitled to compensation from his new employers because he is a product of their youth system, after he was released by Crystal Palace.

"I left it for Don (Givens) to choose, like I did with Seán (McCaffrey, the under-17 manager who suggested a call-up for 16-year-old Terry Dixon)," said Staunton. "I could have picked a number of players but I have left it to them because they have worked with the players for the last number of years and they deserve recognition for what they have done."

Liam Miller and Jonathan Douglas, who will be on duty with Leeds in tomorrow's Championship play-off final, will join the squad in Dublin on Tuesday but Ian Harte will travel from Spain to the Algarve on Monday, before returning to Dublin the following day.

While Estrela da Luz, their base in the Algarve, where the weather was perfect yesterday, seems more conducive to relaxation than intensive training, Staunton insisted the complex's sporting facilities, which include a "state-of-the-art fitness centre" designed by John Aldridge, complete with gymnasium and aerobics studio, and a multi-purpose sports area which includes an all-weather football pitch, will be put to good use by his players.

"It's a training camp - and it is going to be a training camp," he said.

"It's not going to be totally training, there will be a wee bit of relaxation, but most of them have had a week's holiday with their families or friends, so hopefully they have got that out of their system. They know we are here to work. It's an important game in the sense of putting our ideas across and, no matter the result, I will be delighted as long as they show that they have taken on board what we have given them over the last few days. That is the most important thing."

Asked if Dixon has a chance of making his senior Irish debut on Wednesday, Staunton would only say: "We'll see how he is in training.

"Obviously he is a talent, like the rest of them, but there's a long way to go. We'll see how he is in training with the big boys."