Stephen Kenny has hit back at criticism from Didi Hamann about calling Andy Moran up to the Ireland senior squad.
The Brighton midfielder, currently on loan at Blackburn Rovers, took a step up from the Ireland U21 squad as injury cover for Saturday's game against the Netherlands and Tuesday's friendly with New Zealand.
Hamann told RTÉ it was "inexcusable" for Kenny to call up the 20-year-old "for a dead rubber against Holland" when the Ireland U21s were in such a strong qualifying position.
The Ireland U21s had won their first three of their Euro 2025 Championship qualifying games before losing 3-2 to Norway on Friday.
18 November 2023; Andy Moran of Republic of Ireland before the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Netherlands and Republic of Ireland at Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Moran did not play against the Netherlands though he is likely to make his senior debut against New Zealand.
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"Andy's an important part of the squad," Kenny said at a press conference on Monday.
"We had players with five [injury] scans last week. Andy was called into the squad. He's a versatile player.
"I heard it said that it’s inexcusable I called him into the senior squad. I'll tell you what's inexcusable, the fact that not many players were progressing through the Irish system for eight years.
"Now that’s aligned from the U15s right to the U21s where all the managers are working together to promote the ultimate goal of getting players in the senior international team.
"Andy is a really good prospect that we want to progress. If it's not me, for that next manager.
"He was in the senior squad because he's the next best player to come in, in that position. He was rewarded for his good performances.
14 November 2023; Andy Moran and manager Manager Stephen Kenny during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
"OK, other players were preferred on the night but you don't know what's going to happen in the game. You react and make decisions based on that. He was a good option as an attacking number eight or someone who could possibly play wider off the left as well."
Asked about criticism from previous Ireland managers who have moved into punditry, like Brian Kerr and Martin O'Neill, Kenny replied: "Criticism from Brian Kerr or anyone else, it’s not something I really want to get into here and now. I understand the question, but I think today is probably not the day for that."
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