Séamus Coleman’s international career may not be over just yet.
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson and assistant coach John O’Shea visited Finch Farm training ground last Friday to assess the 36-year-old Everton captain’s fitness, along with Jake O’Brien.
Hallgrímsson’s squad has been curtailed to just 23 players for the opening World Cup qualifiers against Hungary on September 6th at the Aviva Stadium before facing Armenia in Yerevan three days later, so there was no room for selecting a player on reputation.
Coleman is back training following a succession of injuries but when it came to the first two Premier League games, Everton manager David Moyes picked O’Brien at right back.
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“Séamus is close to playing,” Hallgrímsson revealed. “He is in the [Everton] squad, his numbers at training are good, and he’s eager to start, he really wants to come and help us, and he knows the importance of this camp.
“It just shows his mental strength as well, coming from a bad injury, and just returning back to the Premiership. Hopefully he’ll get his minutes and he might even play League Cup [against Mansfield Town] tomorrow, we’ll see.
“And once he starts playing, of course we really want to have him in the squad, but it would just be a wrong example picking a player who hasn’t played for almost a year.
“It’s always tough to leave Séamus out. Hopefully in the October camp he is ready.”
Matt Doherty, a regular at Wolves, looks certain to be retained at right back against a Hungarian side that will be spearheaded by Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, with O’Brien and QPR captain Jimmy Dunne providing cover.
If only Hallgrímsson had similar options at left back now Robbie Brady is out with a calf injury.
Southampton’s Ryan Manning is the only established left back in the group, although Celtic’s Liam Scales previously filled the role for Shamrock Rovers.
“This is it,” Hallgrímsson continued. “Now it gets serious.
“All the things we’ve been doing up until now has been leading up to this first game against Hungary at the Aviva. We know it is going to be a sell-out on a Saturday evening. In the past, a few season tickets have had tickets and not showed up so we hope fans will come in early.”
The FAI previously bundled Nations League tickets in packages of two or three matches. There are single ticket options to buy for the Hungary fixture.
The Icelandic head coach proceeded to list all the players that were almost selected, including uncapped Sheffield Untied winger Louie Barry, before heaping praise on the only uncapped player in the squad, Stoke City’s defender-cum-holding midfielder Bosun Lawal.
“Now Bosun’s been playing regularly for Stoke, he’s been excellent. He’s one of those players who can play two positions really well. At Stoke he’s played two and a half games as a centre back and one and a half games in midfield, and it’s no bother for him to step up again in another position.
“Both John [O’Shea] and Paddy [McCarthy, Ireland and Crystal Palace coach] have been working with him before, and they have spoken highly of him. He’s been more or less injured since I came, so that was good to have him in June.
“We have so many similar players, but he brings physicality, he’s tall,” Hallgrímsson added of the 22-year-old who came through the youth ranks at St Kevins and Bohemians.
Despite Lawal’s potential, it seems risky to hand him an international debut against Hungary, especially with Dara O’Shea and Nathan Collins likely to form a centre back pairing and Jason Knight partnering Josh Cullen in midfield.
Hallgrímsson stated that four points in Ireland’s opening two games would be an acceptable return before the October qualifiers when Ireland travel to Portugal and host Armenia.
On Evan Ferguson’s Serie A debut for Roma against Bologna at the weekend in which he was named Man of the Match, Hallgrímsson said he hopes the 20-year-old will bring his “brilliant form” into the Ireland camp.
He also highlighted Troy Parrott’s 10 goals in seven appearances for AZ Alkmaar.
“Troy has been on fire since preseason and from last season as well, so it’s a good step for him. I know there was a lot of interest in him, but he wanted to stay [in the Dutch league]. He feels good there, and I really like that. He needs stability, especially if he continues like this, it’s really good for us.”
Ferguson is expected to lead the line against Hungary, with Parrott competing against Middlesbrough’s Finn Azaz to play behind the striker.
Chiedozie Ogbene has recovered from an Achilles tendon rupture to edge Festy Ebosele out of the squad, while Ferencvaros wing back Callum O’Dowda does not make the cut as Sammie Szmodics returns from injury.
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Brentford), Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Mark Travers (Everton).
Defenders: Matt Doherty (Wolves), Jake O’Brien (Everton), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City), Liam Scales (Celtic), Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), Killian Phillips (St Mirren).
Attackers: Evan Ferguson (AS Roma), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Adam Idah (Celtic), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Chiedozie Ogbene (Ipswich Town), Kasey McAteer (Ipswich Town), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion).
Fifa World Cup 26 Qualifying Fixtures
September 6th: Republic of Ireland v Hungary, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm
September 9th: Armenia v Republic of Ireland, Republican Stadium, 8pm (5pm Irish time)
