Jim Crawford is pinpointing Ireland's Under 21 date with Sweden tomorrow evening in Boras (5.00) as the most crucial of his two year reign.
The delicately poised European Championship Group F table currently sees the Irish in fourth place on 10 points behind leaders Sweden on 14, Italy (14) and Bosnia (11).
However, the Irish hold a game in hand on their hosts and two on Bosnia while the Boys In Green's dramatic injury time winner through Ollie O'Neill against the Swedes in Tallaght last November to secure a 1-0 win has boosted confidence in the visitors' camp.
Add in Italy's 1-1 weekend home draw with Montenegro and the fact that Bosnia and the Montenegrins visit Tallaght Stadium in June prior to the final away clash in Italy and there's a real sense that Ireland can compete for a place in next year's finals right until the last kick of the qualifying phase.
“It’s in our hands, qualification is in our hands if we can win," stated Crawford.
"That is automatic qualification too, with Montenegro taking points off Italy the other night so that’s certainly the aim to go and win the game.
"If we can win, we go a point behind Sweden with a game in hand. And that’s our target for now.
"So it’s a huge game, it’s probably for me the most important Under-21 game to date.
"I think the players have got to deal with this kind of environment to go on and impress with the senior team.
"The players know the importance of it. It’s going to be a fantastic learning environment for them, to be playing in games of this stature."
Crawford revealed that Derby County defender Eiran Cashin has not been able to travel with the squad as the paperwork to register him for Irish citizenship has yet to be completed.
"We brought in Eiran Cashin and he still had paperwork to get over the line. But that's not going to happen now.
"We were disappointed not to have Eiran but we realised yesterday so we had to call up someone else then.
"Joe Redmond is joining us. I've had Joe when I was the Under 18's head coach and he'll never let you down.
"He's got a hell of a lot better and he's had an unbelievable start to the season with St Pat's.
"I've seen him play a few times this season and he's been in fantastic form, a real defender and reads the game very well.
"He's got fantastic distribution of the football too and these are all the types of things we look for in players we're bringing into the group.
"So I'm delighted for Joe but obviously disappointed for Eiran. But Eiran's paperwork will be sorted out before the next window in June."
Crawford must plan without Cashin's exciting Rams' team mate Festy Ebosele and Brighton and Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson who withdrew for family reasons and injury respectively.
Will Smallbone remained with Southampton after he reported an illness last week while
Darragh Burns (St Patrick's Athletic), Killian Phillips (Crystal Palace) and Oisin McEntee (Greenock Morton) have also been added to the panel in recent days.
"It's always frustrating to lose players but it gives other players the opportunity to go and show what they can do.
"These are three high potential players but you’ve got to carry on."
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