Ireland under-21 manager Jim Crawford says managers in the UK have already been in touch with him about Bohemians striker Promise Omochere.
The 21-year-old was left out of a particularly competitive squad for the European Championships qualifier in Sweden at the end of the month but is under consideration for a June call-up.
Tallaght 's Mipo Odubeko, on loan at Doncaster Rovers from West Ham United, was recalled to the international fold after a three-year self-imposed absence.
Crawford said the former Manchester United striker, who hasn't played at age level for Ireland since 2019, always wanted to play for his country but was focusing on club football.
And despite the absence of Swansea City's Michael Obafemi, Crawford could still call on Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, Derby’s Festy Ebosele, Rotherham’s JJ Kayode and UCD ’s Collie Whelan.
The abundance of options may well have seen Omochere, who missed a big chunk of 2021 with injury, edged out but Crawford believes he will be in the conversation in the summer.
And it may not be the only conversation the Dubliner will be in this summer as he’s assumed the role of Bohs ’ number nine following the departure of Georgie Kelly for Rotherham.
“I’ve already had a couple of phone calls about Promise from clubs in the UK,” Crawford said at the squad announcement on Tuesday.
“I said 'look, you certainly have to get eyes on him' because he ticks a hell of a lot of boxes. As the season goes on, when he gets a run of games we’ll be able to assess [him more].”
Crawford says Omochere, who returns for Friday’s meeting with UCD after a harsh sending-off ruled him out of the derby defeat to Shamrock Rovers, is in the frame.
A good run of games, the first he’s had since returning from injury, would help his case in what is a very competitive forwards division.
“Look, Promise is certainly somebody that has been in our thoughts. He had a wonderful pre-season. I went up to see him against Dundalk and he was unplayable,” said Crawford.
“In the June window, when he gets more games under his belt, playing at that level, because it looks like he’s the main targetman at Bohemians at the moment, we’ll see what happens there.
“I would never say never with Promise. Promise would be a player who’s come from St Joseph’s Boys and he is a hell of a talent.
“He’s a physical presence with good one-touch play, links up with midfielders and can obviously score goals. It’s just one of those that we’ll see where he is come the June window. If he gets more competitive games.”
