Manager Noel King says he was always resigned to being without Robbie Brady for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s’ first big test in Group 6 of the Uefa Under-21 qualifiers, when Germany visit the Showgrounds in Sligo on Monday week.
Speaking at his squad announcement yesterday, King said he spoke to senior manager Giovanni Trapattoni about having both Brady and Jeff Hendrick for the game as they are still eligible at that age group.
Midfielder Hendrick has since pulled out of the senior squad with injury, while Brady, who has started the English Premier League season impressively with Hull City, is now seen as having established himself in the senior set-up.
“The priority is the senior team, obviously,” said King. “These are two huge games [Sweden and Austria) for the senior team and that takes priority over everything, which we understand. We’ll see how (Brady) goes. He’s playing very well in the Premier League, scoring goals, and you’d expect him to be pushing for the senior team.
"He (Trapattoni) told me early that he would be requiring the boys," added King. "That's grand. And if the time comes he's not involved in the first team, and I've spoken to him [Brady) as well, he'll come back when required."
Now unlikely
But King said that scenario was now unlikely, given Brady's progress.
“No, I think he’s a Premiership player, an international player, and it’s up to the senior management how they handle that. It wouldn’t be what I see, it’s what they see, and as long as they want him, we’re glad for him.”
Wolves winger Anthony Forde and defender Derrick Williams of Bristol City, meanwhile, return to the 18-man squad following suspension in the only changes to the panel from the 4-1 win away to the Faroe Islands in the opening game earlier this month.
Derry City midfielder Barry McNamee and striker Graham Burke of Aston Villa lose out.
With Montenegro and Romania completing the group, King expects his charges to challenge strongly for at least the runners-up place.
Germany, now managed again by Horst Hrubesch, who led them to the under-21 title in Sweden in 2009, are expected to win the group, so any result against them will be a bonus.
“Germany are obviously the favourites and will expect to top the table, but we’ve proven in big games before that we can take on sides like this and do well,” said King.
“They play the sort of football a lot of people would say is how the game should be played.
“They’re fit, strong and fast and will represent a challenge for our players, but our squad like games like that.
“Our players like the opportunity to prove ourselves at that level. We proved with our performances against Italy and the Netherlands in the last year that this is the level our players want to be playing at and know they can do well in.”
The 10 group winners along with four best runners-up qualify for the play-offs to decide which seven nations will join hosts the Czech Republic in the eight-team finals tournament in June 2015.
The top four teams in Europe will then also qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro the following year.