By Mark Walker, PA Sport
Republic of Ireland trio Robbie Brady, Andrew Omobamidele and Callum O’Dowda have returned to the squad for the UEFA Nations League games against Scotland and Armenia.
Stephen Kenny’s side will play Scotland at Hampden Park on Saturday, September 24th and then face Armenia in their final League B1 game at the Aviva Stadium the following Tuesday (September 27th).
Preston’s Brady, one of the Republic’s heroes of Euro 2016, is back in the squad for the first time since March 2021, while Norwich defender Omobamidele last appeared for them against Luxembourg in November 2021.
𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗 | 𝗠𝗡𝗧
Robbie Brady, Andrew Omobamidele & Callum O'Dowda all return to the Ireland squad 👏
Obafemi, Ogbene & Parrott bolster forward line for matches against Scotland & Armenia 😍
𝗠𝗡𝗧 𝗙𝗜𝗫𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦
24/09 | 🏴🆚🇮🇪
27/09 | 🇮🇪🆚🇦🇲#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/2EGKai6bfS— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) September 15, 2022
Cardiff winger O’Dowda is another player rewarded for impressive form in the Sky Bet Championship, with his last Republic appearance being in November 2020.
Kenny will be hoping Birmingham’s Scott Hogan and fellow striker Chiedozie Ogbene can replicate their early-season form on the international stage.
Hogan fired a hat-trick in Birmingham’s 3-2 win at West Brom on Wednesday night and Ogbene has scored four goals in eight league appearances for Rotherham.
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has not been included. He aggravated an injury in pre-season that he initially sustained during the Republic’s 1-1 Nations League draw against Ukraine in June.
Squad: Bazunu (Southampton), Travers (Bournemouth), O’Leary (Bristol City), Coleman (Everton), Doherty (Tottenham), Duffy (Fulham), Egan (Sheffield United), Collins (Wolves), Omobamidele (Norwich), O’Shea (West Brom), McClean (Wigan), Brady (Preston), Cullen (Burnley), Hendrick (Reading), Knight (Derby), Browne (Preston), Molumby (West Brom), Hourihane (Derby), O’Dowda (Cardiff), Ogbene (Rotherham), Obafemi (Swansea), Parrott (Preston), Robinson (Cardiff), Hogan (Birmingham).
