Inclusion in Irish squad a welcome distraction for Ferguson and McGrath from club woes
Athboy man included in Irish squad for upcoming high-profile friendlies while Bettystown teenager will be looking to find the net and end drought
Both Evan Ferguson and Jamie McGrath have been included in the Irish senior squad for forthcoming friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland - and the call up represents a welcome diversion for both players.
Ferguson, the Meath Chronicle Sports Personality of the Year for 2023, has shown himself to be one of best young players in the Premier League over the last year or so .
He scored four goals in his first four games in the Premier League this season (including a hat-trick against Newcastle Utd) but right now he is in the middle of a protracted goal drought with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Playing with Ireland is a chance for him to redisover his scoring touch and get him back on track with his colleague Danny Welbeck predicting it's only a matter of time before he finds the target once more.
The break from club duties and the limelight that invariably follows could do the young Bettystown man the world of good.
The past fews weeks have also been tough too - but in another respect altogether - for Jamie McGrath in the often ruthless world, of professional football.
Last Saturday his club Aberdeen secured a place in the Scottish Cup semi-final with a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock with McGrath scoring two goals.
The victory capped a very impressive display by the team managed be the outspoken Neil Warnock.
He had taken over as interim manager from Barry Robson last month as the Scottish club sought in vain to move away from the lower regions of the table.
However the loquacious Warnock (who has had more clubs than Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry put together) was unable to find a winning formula up North.
In six previous Premiership games Warnock's Dons failed to secure a win but the losing sequence ended against Kilmarnock albeit in the cup. It looked like it might be the dawning of a new day for the struggling club.
However, just after that victory Warnock, who is 75, stepped down as the Aberdeen interim manager throwing them once more into turmoil.
Peter Leven was appointed as temporary boss and he was in charge for last night's Premiership outing against Dundee at Dens Park and included McGrath in his starting team.
It was also back to the bad old days for Aberdeen as they lost 1-0 - the goal coming from a second-half penalty. This time McGrath couldn't find the net and salvage even a drew for his team.
Now the Dons have gone 11 games in the Premiership without a victory, a dismal run that leaves them in real danger of finishing second last and becoming embroiled in a relegation play-off (Livingston look destined to finish bottom).
The annoucement today by temporary Irish manager John O'Shea of the Irish squad at Abbotstown also offers the Athboy man some respite.
McGrath's inclusion in the squad will be welcome break from the upheaval and instability at Pittodrie.
All of McGrath's previous senior caps were won under the reign of Stephen Kenny who knew the Athboy player well from their days together at Oriel Park.
Now with O'Shea also including McGrath in his squad the call up represents a certain validation of the player's credentials as a international footballer. Different manager, same faith in his abilities.
More beneficial to McGrath, arguably, is the fact that for a time at least he will be away from the uncertainty of events unfolding in the Highlands of Scotland. It can't be an easy environment to work in - a club struggling; under pressure, relegation hanging like the sword of Damoclas over their collective heads.
That reality too is something that should make McGrath smile when he does meet up with his old pals in the Irish camp. Ferguson should also feel the benefits of a different environment, among his own.
O'Shea of course knows all about international football. He played over 118 times for the Republic, his last appearance against the USA at the Aviva Stadium in 2018.
He was replaced after 33 minutes by Darragh Lenihan who in so doing became the first Meathman to ever play in full international for the Ireland.
Lenihan, who has now four senior caps to his name, has been this season sidelined long-term serious injury - another reminder of the vagaries of life and especially the capricious nature of professional sport.
McGrath, however, is still getting his chance to add to his collection of 10 caps, something no doubt he savours each time he gets notice to answer Ireland's Call.
That's a feeling Evan Ferguson surely shares as well - and will be aiming to prove in those games against Belgium and the Swiss.
FAI PRESS RELEASE
“I have just been talking to myself,” smiled John O’Shea, the interim Republic of Ireland manager when asked if the incoming head coach has been in touch.
“There has been no input from anyone like that. My full focus has just been on picking the squad and looking forward to a big challenge against Belgium and Switzerland and whatever happens happens. It’s been straightforward for me, fully focused on the two games.”
The FAI director of football Marc Canham will unveil the new appointment in early April.
Meanwhile, O’Shea has included Sammie Szmodics in his squad while Joe Hodge and Andy Moran, the current Ireland under-21 co-captains, will join the senior group ahead of the Swiss game after Jim Crawford’s team play San Marino on Friday week.
Szmodics is the leading scorer in the EFL Championship with 21 goals for Blackburn Rovers this season, and 27 across all competitions, so the 28-year-old is expected to win his first cap against Belgium on March 23rd.
“It was very straightforward,” said O’Shea at Thursday’s press conference in Abbotstown. “Obviously one of the first games I went to watch was Blackburn versus Millwall and Michael Obafemi was playing as well.”
The former Manchester United defender dispelled concerns about Szmodics not wanting to play for Ireland or declaring for Hungary, where his grandfather was born.
“Any of the conversations I had with Sammie were all straight forward. He is buzzing. He’s delighted to be coming in and it’s great to have a player like him in such good form consistently all season. 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. It’s great to have an option like that to bring into the squad.”
Uncapped pair, Middlesbrough midfielder Finn Azaz and Lyon’s Jake O’Brien, are promoted to the senior panel for the first time.
Azaz has excelled in the Championship this season, scoring nine goals from midfield for Plymouth and Middlesbrough, who he joined in January. His previous cap for Ireland came at under-21 against Israel in 2022, a country he could also represent.
“Finn is a creative, technical option for us going forward. I spoke to Michael [Carrick, the Boro manager and a former United team-mate of O’Shea] about him as well and he’s really enjoying working with him. I think he’ll add something different to the squad definitely.
“Jake is another player I have worked with at the under-21s. It’s been brilliant to see what he has done in the last year to 18 months. Going out to Europe to learn his trade, leaving Crystal Palace going to Lyon and establishing himself in a top-flight league. It’s been brilliant to see.
“He’ll have lots of competition but it’s great for us, and me being part of the defensive camp shall we say, that we can help him improve even further over the two games coming up.”
Irish captain Séamus Coleman and veteran winger Robbie Brady make welcome returns while Troy Parrott shook off an injury to be chosen as one of six forwards.
“I know what it means to Séamus to play for Ireland,” O’Shea continued. “In terms of the squad I wanted a good mix of that experience and new players coming in too. There was never any doubt of Séamus’s commitment that’s for sure.”
Brady’s recall is partly down to Ryan Manning’s injury and a lack of game time at club level for the other left-back options, Callum O’Dowda and Matt Doherty, but the Dubliner is only coming off the bench at Preston North End.
“I know he is a brilliant character too, but first and foremost it is about his footballing ability. He is fit and well and hopefully he gets some game time at the weekend and we’ll see what happens from there. But as I mentioned, Robbie can play left wing back, left back, he can play in midfield, there is good versatility to him too, so it’s great to have him back in.”
Evan Ferguson will lead the line for Ireland but O’Shea is tasked with finding a role for Szmodics alongside in-form wingers Chiedozie Ogbene and Mikey Johnston.
Tom Cannon is unavailable for international duty, seemingly for Ireland and England, with O’Shea recently speaking to the Leicester City striker.
“Look, Tom is concentrating on his club stuff. It’s as simple as that. That was it.”
Alan Browne and the uncapped Leicester winger Kasey McAteer are also injured
The Red Devils come to Dublin without Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
“Kevin’s been playing with a minor groin issue during the last games,” said Domenico Tedesco, the Belgium manager. “Yesterday I spoke to the doctor and Kevin and we decided that the risk is too big. It’s better to give him time to recover well at City and then have him ready for the Euros.”
Courtois will miss the Euros in Germany this summer as he is recovering from knee surgery but Tedesco has named a strong squad with Romelu Lukaku joined in attack by Loïs Openda, who has 17 goals for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga and another four in the Champions League.
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana and Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku are also selected.
Swiss manager Murat Yakin has called in Granit Xhaka of Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan striker Noah Okafor and Man City defender Manuel Akanji.
“Under interim coach John O’Shea, we expect a team with a British style, whose style of play will be not dissimilar to that of our European Championship opponents Scotland,” said Yakin.
Ireland squad
Goalkeepers - Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Bournemouth)
Defenders: Séamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolves), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), Dara O’Shea (Burnley), Liam Scales (Celtic), Jake O’Brien (Lyon), Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Festy Ebosele (Udinese).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen), Callum O’Dowda (Cardiff City), Mark Sykes (Bristol City), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Mikey Johnston (West Brom).
Forwards: Adam Idah (Celtic, on loan from Norwich City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town), Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers), Evan Ferguson (Brighton), Michael Obafemi (Millwall, on loan from Burnley), Troy Parrott (Excelsior, on loan from Tottenham)