West Ham’s Armstrong Oko-Flex has received a first call-up to the Republic of Ireland Under-21s squad for the games against Italy and Sweden.
Jim Crawford has named a squad of 25 players for the European qualifiers, which sees Southampton’s Will Smallbone and Derby County’s Festy Ebosele return following injury.
Ireland take on Italy at Tallaght Stadium on Friday, November 12th before hosting Sweden four days later on Tuesday, November 16th.
Crawford's side are fourth in Group F with seven points from four games but Sweden and Italy are the top two in the group.
Ireland's only home game of the campaign so far ended in a 2-0 win over Luxembourg at Tallaght Stadium in October.
Republic of Ireland Under-21 Squad
Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (Bray Wanderers), David Odumosu (Drogheda United), Luke McNicholas (Cliftonville, on loan from Sligo Rovers)
Defenders: Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Festy Ebosele (Derby County), Andy Lyons (Bohemians) Oisin McEntee (Greenock Morton, on loan from Newcastle United), Mark McGuinness (Cardiff City), Jake O’Brien (Crystal Palace), Lee O’Connor (Tranmere Rovers, on loan from Celtic)
Midfielders: Conor Coventry (Peterborough United, on loan from West Ham United) Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Ryan Johansson (Fortuna Sittard, on loan from Seville), Gavin Kilkenny (Bournemouth), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Conor Noss (Borussia Möchengladbach), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Ross Tierney (Bohemians)
Forwards: Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Ferry (Crawley Town, on loan from Southampton), Joshua ‘JJ’ Kayode (Rotherham United), Liam Kerrigan (UCD), Armstrong Oko-Flex (West Ham United), Colm Whelan (UCD), Tyreik Wright (Salford City, on loan from Aston Villa)
2022 UEFA Under-21 European Championship Qualifiers
Republic of Ireland v Italy - Friday, November 12th at Tallaght Stadium (KO 5:30pm)
Republic of Ireland v Sweden - Tuesday, November 16th at Tallaght Stadium (KO 7pm)
