REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny says northern-born midfielder Mark Sykes was “very close” to making his 27-man squad ahead of their training camp in Spain where they will play Andorra before travelling to face Hungary in Budapest next month.
Euro 2016 heroes, the injury-plagued Robbie Brady and Newcastle United’s Jeff Hendrick are notable absentees from the squad as is Shane Long, while the manager has drafted in Shamrock Rovers midfielder Daniel Madroiu, Rotherham United winger Chiedozie Ogbene, St Mirren midfielder Jamie McGrath and Norwich City defender Andrew Omobamidele who are all earning their first senior call-ups.
However, Oxford United midfielder Sykes has been placed on standby after finishing the season strongly in League One.
Last August, the 23-year-old Ormeau Road man raised eyebrows when he rejected an international call-up with Northern Ireland and declared for the south.
Sykes, formerly of Glenavon, was part of the Oxford United side that lost a League One semi-final promotion play-off to Blackpool last week.
Asked how close Sykes was to winning a call-up to the Irish set-up, Kenny said: “Yeah very close. He is on standby.
“I thought he did well in the play-off games on the left side of a midfield three. The players he's in competition with for that left side of the midfield three are Conor Hourihane, Jayson Molumby, Jason Knight.
“He's a runner from deep. The problem for Mark was that earlier in the season he wasn't in the team at all at Oxford.
“He lost his place and lost his way a bit, but to his credit, he has knuckled down in recent times and got back into the team.
“He was a big part of their push as Oxford went from nearly being bottom of the table to sixth and getting into the play-offs.”
Kenny added: “He made an unbelievable run in the middle of that game last week, the first-leg. It was a good save from the keeper. That's what he has, he makes deep runs and he's an interesting player. He has a lot of energy and yeah, he's close to it.”
With each passing squad announcement, it looks and feels like Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick’s best international days are firmly in their rear view.
Two undisputed stars of Euro 2016, Brady (29) has been desperately unlucky with injuries, while Hendrick has only shown glimpses of his achievements in the green jersey since the championships in France five summers ago.
On Hendrick’s absence from the 27-man squad, Kenny said: “Jeff is not injured on this one. I don't think he's injured. He just has private reasons for not linking up on this one.”
Hendrick didn’t start in either of Ireland’s 2022 World Cup qualifier defeats to Serbia and Luxembourg back in March, which virtually put paid to their hopes of making the Qatar finals next summer.
Kenny, who has yet to win a game in 11 attempts as senior boss, was considerably more glowing about what a fit Robbie Brady would bring to the Irish team.
“Since Robbie Brady came off in the game against Qatar, he has not been even on the grass,” said Kenny.
“He's been in the gym rehabbing. It's his Achilles which is a tough injury to get right.
“He had been struggling but, ideally, a fit Robbie Brady would definitely be playing in our team. No doubt about it.”
Injury and a lack of game-time at club level could also signal the end of Shane Long’s international career, with Kenny looking to the future in attack that includes Adam Idah, Troy Parrott and Aaron Connolly who all played for the manager at U21 level.
Out of all the new recruits, Meath-born Jamie McGrath of St Mirren was the one player Kenny became more animated about.
He said: “Jamie McGrath has scored 17 goals for St Mirren - alright he’s scored a lot of penalties but he’s scored a lot of big goals, he’s a very important player for them.
“He just has terrific feet. He needed to add goals to his game as that was the thing that was lacking but he’s done that.
“He can beat three players in a tight space, his feet are so good, with sharp step-overs and drag-backs...
“He has a good attitude, and you know we’ll have to see how it goes, it is a step up to international football. I’m sure he’ll come in and enjoy the environment, enjoy that, we’ll see how he goes.”
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Gavin Bazunu (Rochdale, on loan from Manchester City)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Lee O’Connor (Tranmere Rovers, on loan from Celtic), James McClean (Stoke City), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Andrew Omobamidele (Norwich City).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Conor Hourihane (Swansea City, on loan from Aston Villa), Harry Arter (Nottingham Forest), Jason Knight (Derby County), Jayson Molumby (Preston North End, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren), Daniel Mandroiu (Shamrock Rovers).
Forwards: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), James Collins (Luton Town), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers).
