Mick McCarthy has hailed the commitment of the Irish players involved in Play-Off action this week and says they have given assurances they are ready to face Denmark and Gibraltar next month.
The Championship and League One Play-Off semi-finals will feature Irish stars Conor Hourihane, Glenn Whelan, Richard Keogh, Josh Cullen and Ronan Curtis – and should they get through to the final, their season effectively runs until the end of May.
The Ireland squad will train for a week in Portugal from May 21, and McCarthy confirmed any player who loses out in the semi finals will be on the plane to Portugal to link up with the rest of the group.
He said: “I’ve spoken to the lads who are taking part in the semi-finals and, not to put a negative on it, I said if you lose are you happy to come to Portugal and be selected and every single one them said ‘absolutely’.
Derby's Richard Keogh faces Leeds United in the Championship Play Off semi final this weekend(Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)“I was delighted that Sheffield United won as it means the four players from there can come. There’s a bit of a dilemma of who is going to be there (Portugal) and who is going to be in the Play-Off Final.
“Winning the two games against Gibraltar and Georgia put us top of the group and has meant players are thinking ‘you know what, we may have a chance here, we may be at Euro 2020’ everyone wants to be involved in that and that’s great for all of us.”
Mark Travers starred in Bournemouth's win against Champions League finalists Spurs last weekend and he makes the squad along with Manchester United youngster Kieran O'Hara. McCarthy will review his options after the final series of English Premier League games this Sunday and the Championship and League One play-off semi-finals.
The Ireland squad will train for a week at the Campus sports complex in Quinta Do Lago before moving base to the FAI National Training Centre ahead of the trip to Denmark and the home game with Gibraltar on June 10.
Ireland
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Kieran O’Hara (Manchester United), Mark Travers (Bournemouth);
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Kevin Long (Burnley), John Egan (Sheffield United), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Greg Cunningham (Cardiff City)
Midfielders: Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Harry Arter (Cardiff City), Josh Cullen (Charlton Athletic*), Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), James McClean (Stoke City), Alan Judge (Ipswich Town), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City)
Forwards: David McGoldrick (Sheffield United), Shane Long (Southampton), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Sheffield United), James Collins (Luton Town), Aiden O'Brien (Millwall), Callum Robinson (Preston North End)
