Republic of Ireland: Liam Scales & Troy Parrott out of Belgium & Switzerland games

Liam Scales will miss the Republic friendlies after injury ruled him out of Celtic's weekend win over St Johnstone

Defender Liam Scales and striker Troy Parrott have been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland's friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland.

Scales missed Celtic's weekend win over St Johnstone because of injury and has withdrawn from the Republic squad.

Parrott is ruled out after missing his Dutch club Excelsior's past two games.

Under-21s players Joe Hodge and Andy Moran will join the squad of interim coach John O'Shea after Friday's European qualifier against San Marino.

However, O'Shea has not opted to call up any further replacements.

Derry City goalkeeper Brian Maher has been invited to train alongside the squad's keepers Gavin Bazunu, Caoimhin Kelleher and Mark Travers in the build-up to the friendlies in Dublin.

The Republic face Belgium on Saturday before next Tuesday's contest with Switzerland.

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), 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).