Calum Kavanagh among quartet of maiden U21s call-ups

Calum Kavanagh, son of former Republic of Ireland midfielder Graham, has been handed a first call-up to Jim Crawford's Under-21s squad ahead of the European Championship qualifier gainst San Marino.

The Boys in Green face the Sammarinese on Friday, 22 March (5pm, live on RTÉ News channel and the RTÉ Player) as they look to reach the Under-21 Euros for the first time.

Crawford has given first call-ups to Bradford City striker Kavanagh, Newcastle United defender Alex Murphy, Brighton and Hove Albion’s Mark O’Mahony and Drogheda United keeper Andrew Wogan.

Captain Joe Hodge and midfielder Andrew Moran return to the squad with both players set to join up with the senior team ahead of the friendly against Switzerland on Tuesday, 26 March.

With U21 goalkeeper coach Rene Gilmartin and lead analyst Martin Doyle drafted into interim senior head coach John O’Shea’s backroom team.

To fill the void, Crawford has turned to former Ireland Under-21 goalkeeper and Chelsea assistant first team goalkeeper coach James Russell, and Swindon Town first team coach and lead analyst Liam McCartan.

Republic of Ireland Under-21s squad

Goalkeepers: Tiernan Brooks (Rochdale, on loan from Notts County), Josh Keeley (Barnet, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Andrew Wogan (Drogheda United)

Defenders: Tayo Adaramola (RWD Molenbeek, on loan from Crystal Palace), Sam Curtis (Sheffield United), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (PEC Zwolle), Sean Grehan (Carlisle United, on loan from Crystal Palace), Bosun Lawal (Fleetwood Town, on loan from Celtic), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United), Connor O’Riordan (Blackburn Rovers), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)

Midfielders: Baba Adeeko (Wigan Athletic), Zak Gilsenan (Blackburn Rovers), Matt Healy ( Royal Francs Borains), Joe Hodge