Stephen Kenny has named his 25-man Ireland squad for this month's international friendlies against Norway and Malta, and 18-year-old Brighton striker Evan Ferguson has earned a first ever senior international call up.
Ferguson has been named in the Ireland squad after impressing at Brighton since his arrival from Bohemians in 2021. Will Smallbone has also earned a first ever senior call up in midfield.
After his strong performance for Liverpool in the EFL Cup against Derby, Caoimhin Kelleher is once again named in the squad, and will hope to wrestle the starting goalkeeper spot off Gavin Bazunu.
Ireland will face Norway in Dublin, before travelling to Malta three days later, in the final internationals of 2022 for Stephen Kenny's squad.
Ireland squad to face Norway and Malta
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher, Gavin Bazunu, Mark Travers
Defenders: Seamus Coleman, Matt Doherty, Nathan Collins, John Egan, Dara O'Shea, Darragh Lenihan, Liam Scales, James McClean, Robbie Brady
Midfielders: Josh Cullen, Jeff Hendrick, Jayson Molumby, Alan Browne, Will Smallbone, Jamie McGrath
Attackers: Michael Obafemi, Callum Robinson, Scott Hogan, Chiedozie Ogbene, Will Keane, Evan Ferguson, Callum O'Dowda
The Ireland squad come in to this fixture off the back of a mixed Nations League campaign, which saw them finish out the group with an unnecessarily nervy 3-2 win over Armenia at the Aviva Stadium last month.
SQUAD ANNOUNCED | Norway & Malta @OfficialBHAFC striker Evan Ferguson receives his first senior call-up as well as Will Smallbone 👏
Five players return to the squad including @dundeeunitedfc midfielder Jamie McGrath ⤵️
17/11 | 🇮🇪🆚🇳🇴
20/11 | 🇲🇹🆚🇮🇪— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) November 10, 2022
They have since been handed a seriously tricky EURO 2024 qualifying draw, with the might of France and the Netherlands to contend with, alongside Greece and Gibraltar.
For this month's friendlies, Ireland will face Erling Haaland's Norway in the Aviva Stadium on November 17, before a trip to Malta on November 20.
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