Jack Moylan has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for Thursday’s friendly against Qatar at the Aviva Stadium, with the forward returning after a debut that turned heads earlier this month. Moylan scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Grenada in Murcia and now gets another chance to press his case.
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson issued an updated squad list on Monday after a series of withdrawals, and Moylan is among the changes for the home fixture only. Dara O’Shea also returns for Qatar, while Caoimhín Kelleher is available for the first match of the two-game window before the squad travels to face World Cup co-hosts Canada at Stade Saputo in Montreal on Friday, 5 June.
The changes underline how quickly the international picture has shifted. Alan Browne, Alex Gilbert, Finn Azaz, Ryan Manning and Andrew Omobamidele are among those withdrawn, forcing Hallgrimsson to reshuffle again before the first ball is kicked. Conor Coventry and Dawson Devoy will join later in the week for the trip to Canada, while Jamie McGrath and Killian Phillips are set for the full window.
Owen Elding will remain with the squad for training while the final stages of his citizenship process are completed, a reminder that even in a short camp the planning stretches beyond one match. For Moylan, though, the immediate task is simpler: make the most of the Qatar game, because his place is only secured for that first stop in a split international window.
