Robbie Brady is back in an Ireland squad for the first time since March 2021. The 30-year-old, who is now with Preston North End, was on Thursday named in Stephen Kenny's 24-man group for the upcoming Nations League games against Scotland and Armenia.
"It's 18 months out of the squad for Robbie," Kenny said during a press conference.
"He is one of our better players, for sure, all things being equal, but things haven't been equal for him because his body has let him down frequently. That's been most unfortunate.
"It's in on absolute merit. We do admire him as a player. He's in because his performances for Preston have been different really for a left wing-back. He offers different things. He's a very creative passer from that position, has quality crossing. He just sees things so early. He's played well in that position to date this season. I've been to see Preston a few times this season. I've enjoyed his performances."
3 September 2020; Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny greets Robbie Brady, left, as coach Keith Andrews greets John Egan, right, following the UEFA Nations League B match between Bulgaria and Republic of Ireland at Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia, Bulgaria. Photo by Alex Nicodim/Sportsfile
Callum O'Dowda, who left Bristol City for Cardiff during the summer, also returns to an Ireland squad. He last played for Ireland in November 2020.
"Callum is talented, left-footed, direct, a dribbler," said Kenny.
"He's not been able to get a run of games with his previous club Bristol City. He got a really bad hamstring injury, and it reoccurred. It was a very difficult period for Callum. He's been through a lot because he's had a few false dawns where it looked like he was getting back, and then it went again. Sometimes you get that with explosive players.
"He's moved to Cardiff, started the season well, played in four different positions: the right wing, left wing, as a left-back, and as a wing-back. He's a quite versatile player. I would hope he's someone who's important, a significant player for us in qualification for the European Championships between March and November."
Kenny said it was "not ideal" that Michael Obafemi has been omitted by Swansea manager Russell Martin for his side's last two Championship games. The striker was the subject of three failed deadline day bids from Burnley, and Martin felt Obafemi subsequently "wasn't in the right frame of mind" to play.
9 October 2019; Republic of Ireland U21 head coach Stephen Kenny speaks with Michael Obafemi during a Republic of Ireland U21's Training Session at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
"I've spoken to Michael," said Kenny.
"There's two or three sides to every story. Certainly, Michael wants to play football. He wants to play for Swansea. He's been omitted from the last couple of squads after the deadline day bids.
"It's not ideal. We want our players playing, and coming [to us] in good form. I'm sure he'll be back playing shortly.
"We've watched him a few times this season. He's played well. He's been at the level he finished at last season. OK, maybe, that's not being translated into goals, but I saw him against Blackpool where he ran 60 yards, was right in on goal to win the game, and unselfishly laid it off to Olivier Ntcham to score to win the game. He scored a great goal against Millwall. He's done some good things, and his form has been good overall."
10 June 2022; Manager Stephen Kenny and Scott Hogan during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
A player hitting form at the right moment for Kenny is Scott Hogan. The striker scored a hat-trick for Birmingham on Wednesday night in a 3-2 victory over West Brom.
"What a hat-trick last night. The three goals were excellent, really top class goals," said Kenny.
"Scott wasn't in the Birmingham team regularly towards the end of last season. He had periods where he was out of the team, and then we had a five-week gap between the Championship finishing, and the first game in the group.
"That had its challenges for Scott. He had a goal chalked off against Scotland that was over the line, and not given. Against Ukraine, he played 50-odd minutes, but he wasn't at the level then physically that he is now. He's at a much different level now because he's had a full pre-season.
"Under John Eustace, he has been the main man at Birmingham. Even though, he'd only got two goals going into last night, his workrate, and the threat he was causing in a team, that before their recent signings was struggling in the early part of the season.
"I've been to see them a couple of times. That's one of the best nights of his career, getting a hat-trick in a derby like that. I spoke to him yesterday, which I wouldn't normally do on a matchday, to let him know that he was in the squad."
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