Rovers ace makes grade for McCarthy

SHANE Long, Robbie Brady and Harry Arter will miss out on Republic of Ireland duty next month, but there is a call-up for Shamrock Rovers man Jack Byrne who is “in the form of his life”, according to boss Mick McCarthy.

And while teenagers Michael Obafemi, Troy Parrott and Nathan Collins are not in the senior squad due to Under-21 duty, they are on stand-by for the senior matches if McCarthy opts to call on them.

McCarthy trimmed down his 40-man provisional squad to a 25-strong party, the Irish squad due to train in Dublin on Monday, and there was good news for James McCarthy and Alan Judge who are recalled after injury for the Euro 2020 qualifier with Switzerland and friendly against Bulgaria, both of which will be played at the Aviva Stadium.

Arter is out as he needs surgery on an ankle problem but Southampton striker Long has been omitted by McCarthy while Burnley ace Brady has also been left out.

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Mark Travers (Bournemouth) Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Richard Keogh (Derby County), John Egan (Sheffield United), Kevin Long (Burnley), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United) Midfielders: Alan Judge (Ipswich Town), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Glenn Whelan (Hearts), Josh Cullen (Charlton Athletic), James McClean (Stoke City), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth)

Forwards: Callum Robinson (Sheffield United), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Stoke City), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United)