Killian Phillips Receives Late Call-Up for Republic of Ireland
Killian Phillips has been handed a late chance to stake his claim on the international stage after a double injury setback rocked Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Republic of Ireland plans.
The St Mirren midfielder has been drafted into the squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, with Jamie McGrath and Harvey Vale both ruled out after breaking down on club duty at the weekend.
McGrath, with Hibernian, and Vale, at Queens Park Rangers, each pulled up in the warm-up before their respective matches against Aberdeen and Preston North End. Any faint hope of their recovery disappeared this morning when confirmation came through: neither will feature in this international window.
That opened the door for Phillips.
He is due to link up with the group in Dublin today, joining the camp just hours before Hallgrimsson’s side fly out to Pristina for Thursday’s opener against Kosovo.
The schedule is relentless. After Kosovo, the Boys in Green head to Debrecen in Hungary to take on Israel, before returning to Dublin and the familiar surrounds of the Aviva Stadium for a home clash with Austria. The window then closes with a second meeting with Israel, this time in Bačka Topola, Serbia.
For Phillips, it is a sudden opportunity. For Ireland, it is an early test of depth in a campaign that offers little margin for error.
Republic of Ireland squad
- Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Brentford), Max O'Leary (West Bromwich Albion), Gavin Bazunu (Bolton Wanderers)
- Defenders: James Abankwah (Udinese), Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers), John Egan (Hull City), Liam Kitching (Sheffield United), Ryan Manning (Southampton), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Liam Scales (Celtic)
- Midfielders: Finn Azaz (Southampton), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City), Killian Phillips (St Mirren)
- Forwards: Owen Elding (Hibernian), Adam Idah (Swansea City), Jack Moylan (Cardiff City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Lincoln City), Troy Parrott (Real Betis), Rocco Vata (Watford), Tom Cannon (Sheffield United)
