Wigan striker Caleb Folan and Celtic defender Darren O'Dea have received their first call-ups to the Republic of Ireland squad for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Wales and Slovakia.
Manager Steve Staunton included the uncapped duo in his panel of 24 players for the March 24 clash with the Welsh and Slovaks three days later at Croke Park.
Folan, 24, qualifies for the Republic through his Irish-born grandparents and received his Irish passport last night.
Staunton explained: "His grandfather is from Inis Mor and his grandmother is from Galway. We weren't sure if Caleb would have the paperwork through in time but thankfully we got the call last night that he's got his Irish passport.
"I know through his agent and Paul Jewell that he's more than keen to play for us. He's absolutely delighted with the call-up.
"Paul's delighted with his progress and obviously must have thought something of him to buy Caleb in the first place.
"He told me that he'd though Caleb would be a bit-part player until the end of the season.
"But he's done that well, formed such a good relationship with the other strikers at the club and been such a handful for opposition defences that he's actually starting. He's willing and wanting to learn."
Folan's maiden inclusion comes despite the form of Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison and Sunderland's David Connolly in recent weeks.
Staunton feels Folan's physical strength could prove an asset to the Irish cause in their attempts to qualify for Euro 2008.
He said: "Caleb is big, quick and he'll put it about. He'll run down the channels and defenders don't like that. He's a handful in the air and he'll be awkward to deal with."
O'Dea, 20, was named in Don Givens' Under-21 squad for a friendly against Holland on March 27 but will now be withdrawn for the two senior games, along with Darron Gibson.
The young Dubliner has made a major impression with the Parkhead outfit after breaking into the first team in September.
He starred in the Champions League last-16 games against AC Milan earlier this month.
Staunton said: "He's doing very nicely for Celtic. When I spoke to Gordon Strachan in the earlier part of the season he felt he wasn't ready at that point.
"But 16 games later in different competitions he's got a different opinion and rightly so because when you play regularly at Parkhead in front of 65,000 it makes you a better player.
"He could have got man of the match in the games against AC Milan and looks the sort that if I were to play him he wouldn't let us down."
Reading's Kevin Doyle, Birmingham's Stephen Kelly and Newcastle keeper Shay Given are recalled after missing the February 7 win over San Marino.
Folan, 24, qualifies for the Republic through his Irish-born grandparents and received his Irish passport last night.
Staunton explained: "His grandfather is from Inis Mor and his grandmother is from Galway. We weren't sure if Caleb would have the paperwork through in time but thankfully we got the call last night that he's got his Irish passport.
"I know through his agent and Paul Jewell that he's more than keen to play for us. He's absolutely delighted with the call-up.
"Paul's delighted with his progress and obviously must have thought something of him to buy Caleb in the first place.
"He told me that he'd though Caleb would be a bit-part player until the end of the season.
"But he's done that well, formed such a good relationship with the other strikers at the club and been such a handful for opposition defences that he's actually starting. He's willing and wanting to learn."
Folan's maiden inclusion comes despite the form of Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison and Sunderland's David Connolly in recent weeks.
Staunton feels Folan's physical strength could prove an asset to the Irish cause in their attempts to qualify for Euro 2008.
He said: "Caleb is big, quick and he'll put it about. He'll run down the channels and defenders don't like that. He's a handful in the air and he'll be awkward to deal with."
O'Dea, 20, was named in Don Givens' Under-21 squad for a friendly against Holland on March 27 but will now be withdrawn for the two senior games, along with Darron Gibson.
The young Dubliner has made a major impression with the Parkhead outfit after breaking into the first team in September.
He starred in the Champions League last-16 games against AC Milan earlier this month.
Staunton said: "He's doing very nicely for Celtic. When I spoke to Gordon Strachan in the earlier part of the season he felt he wasn't ready at that point.
"But 16 games later in different competitions he's got a different opinion and rightly so because when you play regularly at Parkhead in front of 65,000 it makes you a better player.
"He could have got man of the match in the games against AC Milan and looks the sort that if I were to play him he wouldn't let us down."
Reading's Kevin Doyle, Birmingham's Stephen Kelly and Newcastle keeper Shay Given are recalled after missing the February 7 win over San Marino.
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Meet the last Aussie standing at Celtic
It's a Kewell-Hutchinson double act at post-Muscat Marinos
