Martin O'Neill has named his provisional Ireland squad to play Wales in their potentially definitive World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium on March 24th.
There are two new call-ups in O'Neill's squad, with Reading's impressive midfielder Liam Kelly and Cork's Brentford defender John Egan - son of the late Kerry GAA legend of the same name - being drafted into the international fold for the first time.
Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle, who both started for Preston on Saturday, are also included, as is James McCarthy who remains an injury doubt.
Ireland squad to play Wales
BREAKING: Martin O'Neill has named a 39-man provisional squad for the upcoming games against Wales & Iceland. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/XTBVcZUy2G
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) March 13, 2017
Fit-again Gareth Bale is a dead cert to be included in Chris Coleman's squad thanks to his bastardish ability to recover from surgery, with Roy Keane telling a fundraiser for his former club Cobh Ramblers last week that the Welsh talisman faces a 'tough night' up against Séamus Coleman.
Bale has either scored or assisted 70% of Wales' goals in the qualifiers to date.
Ireland currently stand four points clear of Wales in Group D, with both nations having played four games in their qualifying campaigns thus far. Serbia are currently Ireland's nearest challengers for top spot in second place. The Serbs travel to Georgia the same day Ireland host Wales.
