Sammie Szmodics: John O'Shea names Blackburn striker in Republic of Ireland squad
- Published
Sammie Szmodics is the Championship's leading scorer this season with 21 goals and has also notched six further cup goals for Blackburn
Republic of Ireland interim boss John O'Shea has called up in-form Blackburn striker Sammie Szmodics for this month's friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland.
Szmodics is the Championship's leading scorer this season with 21 goals.
Colchester-born Szmodics, 28, can also represent Hungary where one of his grandfathers was born.
Lyon centre-half Jake O'Brien and Middlesbrough midfielder Finn Azaz receive first senior call-ups.
O'Brien is having an impressive season for the Ligue 1 club and many had expected him to be included in Stephen Kenny's final squad last autumn.
Seamus Coleman is named in the squad for the first time since playing against France last March while there are also returns for Michael Obafemi, Robbie Brady and Callum O'Dowda.
Szmodics 'buzzing' to be in squad
Interim boss O'Shea said Szmodics was "buzzing" to be named in the squad.
"He's delighted to be coming in and it's great to have a player like him in such good form consistently all season," added O'Shea.
"He has got that versatility in terms of where he's playing at the minute. He's floating from a striker into a 10 position too."
O'Shea said that he had spoken to his former Manchester United team-mate, Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick who signed Azaz during the recent transfer window.
The midfielder recently moved from Plymouth to the Middlesbrough.
"He [Carrick] is really enjoying working with him [Azaz]. I think he'll add something different to the squad," continued O'Shea.
Azaz and O'Brien played for the Republic's Under-21s when O'Shea was part of Jim Crawford's management team.
"It's been brilliant to see what he [O'Brien] has done in the last year to 18 months," said O'Shea.
"Going out to Europe to learn his trade, leaving [Crystal] Palace going to Lyon and establishing himself in a top-flight league."
Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne is not in the Belgium squad for this month's friendly in Dublin
The Republic host Belgium on 23 March before facing the Swiss at the Aviva Stadium three days later.
Belgium will be without Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
De Bruyne will miss Manchester City's FA Cup quarter-final against Newcastle on Saturday with a minor groin injury and Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco said that it had been agreed that the midfielder would not be involved in the Republic game.
O'Shea will be in charge of the Republic for the two friendlies after Football Association of Ireland director of football Marc Canham said earlier this month that "existing contractual arrangements" would delay the announcement of their new manager until early April.
The FAI's original intention was to announce a new manager before the Uefa Nations League draw on 8 February.
England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley was believed to be the FAI's preferred candidate but negotiations with the former Republic midfielder apparently stalled and he is preparing the under-21s for games against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg later this month as they begin the defence of their European title.
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Bazunu (Southampton), Kelleher (Liverpool), Travers (Bournemouth)
Defenders: Coleman (Everton), Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Collins (Brentford), Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), O'Shea (Burnley), Scales (Celtic), O'Brien (Lyon), Brady (Preston), Ebosele (Udinese).
Midfielders: Cullen (Burnley), Knight (Bristol City), Smallbone (Southampton), McGrath (Aberdeen), O'Dowda (Cardiff City), Sykes (Bristol City), Azaz (Middlesbrough), Johnston (West Bromwich Albion).
Forwards: Ferguson (Brighton), Idah (Celtic, on loan from Norwich), Obafemi (Millwall, on loan from Burnley), Szmodics (Blackburn), Ogbene (Luton Town), Parrott (Excelsior, on loan from Tottenham).