Ireland get a boost before qualifier as players return to Stephen Kenny’s squad

Some good news.

Stephen Kenny has been given a boost ahead of the vital World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan. Both Callum Robinson and Alan Browne have returned to the squad, after missing the Portugal game due to COVID. While the manager did not confirm that the players would feature in Saturday’s game at the Aviva Stadium, he was full of praise for both players.

"Each situation is different; it is not a collective decision, [Callum] is in contention. He has had a good pre-season. "West Brom have started the season brilliantly. I’ve seen a few of his games live, he’s scored three goals and was unfortunate to be ill for ten days.

"But he trained yesterday in England, and he comes into the squad. We’ll see how he is in training. "Alan Browne has had an injury as well as being a close contact, and he has not played in a couple of weeks, but he has had a good start to the season. I saw him play for Preston and he started really well for Preston. So we’ll have to see how they train today. Former Shamrock Rovers defender, Liam Scales, has also been drafted into the squad as a result of both Dara O’Shea and Nathan Collins returning to their clubs. "It's a terrific opportunity for Liam," said Kenny.

"Liam is a gradual improver, someone who played in the Under-21 team when he was still at UCD, he's gone on to Shamrock Rovers and had gradually improved and got better. "He has a terrific attitude, he's a very good footballer and athletically he's improved.

"His adaptability to play in quite a number of positions; being left-footed, he's played left of a back three, played left-back, played as a wing-back, as he has for Shamrock Rovers this season. "It's good to have that flexibility and he's earned his call-up." The manager also gave an update on Shane Long, who missed out on the Portugal game after picking up Covid-19 ahead of kick-off in Faro.

"Shane was very unfortunate for that period. I honestly don't know how he managed to get Covid. "He plays guitar in his room on his own a lot because of the Covid times. He brought his guitar with him and he plays away in is room and practises. He's a very careful person, always has the mask on, he's a family man.

"The virus doesn't discriminate – we've had a player who's got it over the last couple of weeks who actually was double-vaccinated, so sometimes it's hard to believe."