Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny believes Callum O'Dowda has been Cardiff City's "player of the year" this season.
It comes after O'Dowda was named ahead of the likes of Swansea City's Ryan Manning and Preston North End's Robbie Brady in the Irish squad which will face Latvia and France later this month.
O'Dowda has been one of the most consistent performers in a Bluebirds shirt this term, starting off as an out-and-out winger before filling in superbly in a left wing-back role following the injury to Jamilu Collins and the poor form of former loanee Niels Nkounkou.
And his debut season in the Welsh capital has seen him recognised on the international stage. He was included in the Irish squad for the first time in two years at the start of the season and Kenny has kept faith in him as Ireland's Euro 2024 qualifying campaign kicks off.
It means Manning, who has also had a good season for Swansea this term, misses out. Explaining the decision to omit Manning, Kenny said on Thursday afternoon: "Of course, we have several players in that position. It's very tight, a lot of players playing in the Championship.
"But I think it's just Callum O'Dowda's form. Callum has been, in my opinion, Cardiff's player of the year this year and I think he offers us something different.
"He is quick, dribbles at pace and is very direct. He is a different type of player, Ryan is an excellent player, there's no doubt about that, and he offers different qualities. Coming on the inside and playing - a really good footballer."
O'Dowda clearly features highly in Kenny's thinking. Brady, a 60-cap veteran who has been a regular fixture in the Irish setup for more than a decade, has also missed out on selection owing to the Bluebirds wide man.
Asked about the Brady decision, Kenny added: "Again, it's a similar situation (to Manning). It's just the form of Callum O'Dowda in that left wing-back position.
"Robbie had a really good spell early in the season and I thought he was absolutely excellent for Preston earlier in the season. I'm full of admiration for how well he has been playing.
"In recent weeks he's not been in the team, although he did play midweek. We have been at a lot of Preston games, but these are just the fine margins."
Unfortunately for Callum Robinson, there is no place in the squad for him. Robinson is thought to be coming back to fitness during the international break, however Kenny has deemed him too much of a risk following his hamstring injury and he is not risked.
Republic of Ireland play Latvia on March 22 before taking on World Cup finalists France on March 27th.
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