Obafemi named in U21 squad

MICHAEL OBAFEMI is one of four Southampton players in the Irish Under21 squad for the crunch Euro qualifier against Italy in Pisa on October 13

Obafemi, capped at senior level in the Nations League two years ago, is joined by fellow Saints Thomas O’Connor, Will Ferry and Will Smallbone in the 22-strong panel named by manager Jim Crawford yesterday.

Lee O’Connor is the second full international called up by Crawford who has included five League of Ireland players, among them uncapped goalkeeper Ed McGinty who impressed at last month’s training camp in Northern Ireland.

Should top seeds Italy win in Iceland next Friday, they will join Ireland at the top of Group 1 on 16 points, with each team having three games to go.

‘We know the challenge that awaits us in Pisa. Italy are top seeds in the group and we expect this to be the toughest game we have played so f ar,’ said Crawford.

‘Our squad is very experienced, and i ncludes senior i nternationals l i ke Lee and Michael.’ REP OF IRELAND U21 SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Bazunu (Rochdale) McGinty (Sligo Rovers); Defenders: Collins (Stoke C), Leahy (Dundalk), Masterson (QPR) McNamara (St Johnstone), L O’Connor (Tranmere Rovers) T O’Connor (Southampton), O’Shea (West Brom), Scales (Shamrock R); Midfielders: Coventry (West Ham), Ferry (Southampton), Knight (Derby Co), Mandroiu (Bohemians), Ronan (Grasshopper Zurich), Smallbone (Southampton), Taylor (Peterborough United); Forwards: Afolabi (Dundee) Elbouzedi (Lincoln C), Farrugia (Shamrock R), Kayode (Carlisle United) Obafemi (Southampton).