Lenihan in republic u21 panel

Dunboyne man Darragh Lenihan has been one of 23 players included in the Republic of Ireland u-21 panel by head coach Noel King who for two friendly games against the USA and Russia in Marbella later this month.

Lenihan is currently on loan from Blackburn Rovers to Burton Albion.

King’s side will meet the USA on Saturday, 15th November and then face Russia on Monday 17th November. These games are continued preparation for the next UEFA u-21 Championships qualifying campaign which later next year.

Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish has not been included after King spoke to the player’s father ahead of naming his squad.

'I spoke to Jack's dad. He feels he wants to concentrate on his Aston Villa career. That's his choice and I accept it so I’ll be focusing on working with the players we have with us. We have a lot of work to do,” he said.

King has called in Shelbourne defender Lee Desmond, St Patrick’s Athletic’s Sean Hoare, Wigan  striker Matthew Hamilton and Brighton’s Glen Rea for the first time.

Ireland’s u-21s lost 1-4 to Norway in a friendly in Drammen last month and with his mind on next year’s qualifying campaign the Irish boss felt it was an experience he gained a lot of knowledge from.

'These friendly games will be very useful in the long term. We're looking to have 11 v 11 sessions in training. Everybody will play at some stage in what should be two good games,' said King.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21 SQUAD:

Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers - on loan at Burton Albion)

Ian Lawlor (Manchester City)

Danny Rogers (Aberdeen - on loan at Dumbarton)

Sean Long (Reading)

Shane Griffin (Reading)

Pierce Sweeney (Reading)

Thomas Hoban (Watford)

Brain Lenihan (Hull City)

Mason Watkins-Clark (Stoke City)

Eoghan O’Connell (Celtic)

Sean Kavanagh (Fulham)

Jack Connors (Dagenham & Redbridge)

Glen Rea (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Sean Hoare (St Patrick's Athletic)

Lee Desmond (Shelbourne)

William Hayhurst (Preston North End)

Alan Browne (Preston North End)

Jack Byrne (Manchester City)

Kieran Sadlier (West Ham Utd - on-loan at Brighton)

Kenneth McEvoy (Tottenham - on-loan at Peterborough)

Sam Byrne (Everton)

Connor Wilkinson (Bolton Wanderers)

Matthew Hamilton (Wigan Athletic)

 

FIXTURES

Saturday 15th November

USA v Republic of Ireland, San Pedro Stadium, Marbella (2.00pm Irish)

Monday 17th November

Russia v Republic of Ireland, Marbella Football Center, Marbella (5.00pm Irish)