Shamrock Rovers teenager Josh O’Dwyer has been added to the Republic of Ireland squad for their friendly against Canada in Montreal.
The 16-year-old joins club team-mate Matt Healy and St Patrick’s Athletic’s Kian Leavy in receiving first call-ups to the senior side.
O’Dwyer, who has represented Republic of Ireland at under-15 and under-17 level and will join Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in July for an undisclosed fee, has been invited to join Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad as a “training player”.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said “O’Dwyer will gain valuable experience with the senior squad in Montreal before linking up with the Ireland Under-17s for their international window next week”.
The Irish squad has also been bolstered by the arrival of goalkeeper Mark Travers and midfielders Conor Coventry and Dawson Devoy, all of whom were earmarked to join the travelling party for the Canada game after missing Thursday’s 1-0 win over Qatar in Dublin.
As part of the pre-arranged squad management plan for the double-header, Caoimhin Kelleher, Dara O’Shea, Jayson Molumby and Jack Moylan, who was sent off at the Aviva Stadium, have all returned to their respective clubs.
Kick-off for the Canada game at the Stade Saputo is at 00:30 BST on Saturday, 6 June.
