Jim Crawford forced to make changes to Ireland Under-21 squad

Burnley's Dara Costelloe, NAC Breda’s Anselmo Garcia MacNulty and the St Patrick’s Athletic duo of Adam O’Reilly and David Odumosu have been added to the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad ahead of Friday's European Under-21 Championship play-off first leg against Israel at Tallaght Stadium.

Manager Jim Crawford has called up the quartet to replace the injured Luca Connell, Liam Kerrigan, Mark McGuinness and David Harrington.

Limerick-native Costelloe has been drafted into his first Ireland squad, while O’Reilly last featured with a national squad in 2019.

The squad met up in Dublin on Sunday and will train at Abbotstown this week.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 Squad

Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (Derry City), Luke McNicholas (Sligo Rovers), David Odomosu (St. Patrick’s Athletic)Defenders: Eiran Cashin (Derby County), Festy Ebosele (Udinese), Anselmo Garcia McNulty (NAC Breda, on loan from Wolfsburg), Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers), Jake O’Brien (RWD Molenbeek, on loan from Crystal Palace), Lee O’Connor (Tranmere Rovers), Joe Redmond (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)

Midfielders: Finn Azaz (Plymouth Argyle, on loan from Aston Villa), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Dawson Devoy (MK Dons), Joe Hodge (Wolves), Adam O’Reilly (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Will Smallbone (Stoke City, on loan from Southampton), Ross Tierney (Motherwell)

Forwards: Aaron Connolly (Venezia, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Dara Costelloe (Burnley),Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joshua Kayode (MK Dons, on loan from Rotherham United), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Mipo Odubeko (Port Vale, on loan from West Ham United), Tyreik Wright (Bradford City, on loan from Aston Villa)

Watch the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs between