Widening pathway to Ireland senior set-up creating buzz in U21 ranks ahead of qualifier in Latvia

The ever clearer pathway towards the Republic of Ireland senior team is creating a palpable buzz within the Under-21 camp according to Jim Crawford's assistant Alan Reynolds.

The Boys in Green's U21s return to European qualification action today against Latvia in Jelgava with the aim of making it three wins from three, having beaten Turkey and San Marino at Turner's Cross in September.

That window last month saw striker Sinclair Armstrong drafted into Stephen Kenny's senior squad as injury cover and the QPR player subsequently won his first cap against the Netherlands in a Euro 2024 qualifier.

The Clondalkin native returned to the 21s in time to play and score in the win over San Marino two days later and Crawford revealed to RTÉ Sport post-match that his team-mates had welcomed Armstrong back into U21 training with an impromptu round of applause.

This time round, the focus is on Brighton attacking midfielder Andrew Moran whose performances on loan at Blackburn Rovers have caught Kenny's eye, so much so that the 19-year-old could be fast-tracked into the senior squad ahead of next Monday's Euro 2024 qualifier against Gibraltar in Faro given that the 21s don't have another fixture this month.

The likes of Evan Ferguson, Will Smallbone and Festy Ebosele have all made the step up to full international status since the last U21 Euro campaign, following in the foosteps of the previous crop who Kenny had helped develop at that age grade before he succeeded Mick McCarthy as senior manager.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport from Latvia, Reynolds said more players are knocking on the door towards progression out of the 21s.

"You can definitely see that there's a pathway there from the '21s. So many lads have gone up and I'm sure if I was a '21s