Glasgow-born Mikey Johnston named in Ireland squad for first time ahead of the visits of Latvia and France

16.03.2023 - 16:31 rte.ie

Mikey Johnston has been named in the the Republic of Ireland's squad for the upcoming games against Latvia and France, just over a week after receiving FIFA international clearance to represent the Boys in Green.The 23-year-old Glasgow-born Celtic winger is currently on loan at Portuguese Primeira Liga side Vitoria Guimaraes.

He qualifies to play for Ireland through his grandfather, who was from Derry.Kenny has previously talked up Johnston's "exciting" attributes - he looks very likely to make his debut in the friendly against the Latvians at the Aviva Stadium next Wednesday.

Ireland will then open their Euro 2024 qualification campaign against beaten World Cup finalists France in Dublin on Monday 27 March.There had been debate around Shane Duffy's chances of making the squad given his struggles to break into the Fulham team, but a calf injury has ruled him out regardless, while Enda Stevens is also absent due to a muscle problem.Conor Hourihane, Robbie Brady and Swansea City's in-fomr wing-back Ryan Manning Despite picking up a knock in Norwich City's draw at with Huddersfield on Wednesday night, Adam Idah is included alongside clubmate Andrew Omobamidele, with the duo looking for their first minutes in Green since November 2021.Having both missed the November window through injury, midfielder Jason Knight and striker Will Keane are amongst the 26 players named.

Fellow attacker Callum Robinson had already been ruled out last month after picking up a hamstring injury.The Boys in Green were given a difficult task to secure automatic qualification for the Euros in Germany next year, taking on giants the Netherlands and World Cup finalists France.Les Bleus will come to Dublin on Monday week after a clash with the Dutch in

soccer Sport Ireland squad Jason Knight Adam Idah Stephen Kenny Enda Stevens Conor Hourihane Will Keane Shane Duffy Robbie Brady Andrew Omobamidele France Germany Netherlands Portugal Ireland Norwich Swansea Latvia county Green county Johnston

Adam Idah has told young players racially abused online to ignore the trolls and dream of playing for the Republic of Ireland senior team. The FAI last week called in police after members of the nation's Under-15s boys team were targeted on multiple social media platforms. On Monday evening, Cork-born Norwich striker Idah, who has a Nigerian father and an Irish mother, featured for Ireland against France in a squad containing five players with African heritage, alongside Gavin Bazunu, Andrew Omobamidele, Chiedozie Ogbene and Michael Obafemi. Asked about the attacks, he said: "It's not a nice thing to see or hear, it's an awful thing. I have experienced it myself, it's not nice for those lads. Under-15s is such a young age, it's outrageous. "You can see in the first team, there is so much diversity in the team at the moment. Anyone and everybody has a chance to play for this country. No matter where you are from or who you are, you always have that chance. "All I can say to those young lads is to keep their heads up, don't listen to what anyone says, focus on themselves and one day they could be in this team as well." The tenor of the abuse aimed at the Under-15s players was that they were "not Irish", and Idah condemned that view. Asked how hurtful that was, the 22-year-old said: "The lads know themselves they are Irish, no matter what colour skin you are, what religion you are. If you feel like you have the Irish in you, of course. "We are all here to welcome whoever. If you want to play for this badge, then you are more than welcome.

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