Jim Crawford is excited for finally getting the chance to work with Mipo Odubeko after the Tallaght striker made himself available for this month’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden.
The Ireland under-21s travel to Boras at the end of the month as they look to get their automatic qualification hopes back on track with back-to-back wins over the Swedes.
Ireland trail group leaders Sweden by four points, albeit with a game fewer played, and three points in Sweden would go a long way towards securing a play-off.
And Crawford was handed a big boost as he was able to call on Odubeko, who is currently on loan from West Ham at Doncaster Rovers.
Derby County centre-half Eiran Cashin has also been called up for the first time at this level after making his breakthrough with Wayne Rooney’s side in recent weeks.
He will have to do without Michael Obafemi, however, as the in-form Swansea City striker has opted to focus on getting into Stephen Kenny’s senior squad.
19-year-old Odubeko, who was on the books with Manchester City and Manchester United before moving to London two years ago, hasn’t featured for his country for three years.
“It’s great to have Mipo involved. When he went to Doncaster I’ve been over a number of times to watch him play,” said Crawford.
“I met Mipo, they played against Wimbledon a couple of weeks ago. We had a chat and he’s loving his football at the minute.
“It’s been made clear to me that he always wanted to play for Ireland but that at that particular stage of his young career, he wanted to concentrate and focus on club football.
“I’m not going to twist anybody’s arm. If you want to play, get in touch. And he eventually did. He’s somebody who offers something different. with his pace, and he scores goals.
“I’ve seen that at schoolboy level, I’ve seen that at Under-23s level and now it won’t be too far down the line that he’s scoring goals for Doncaster.
“It’s a different type of game for him at Doncaster than what he would have been used to at West Ham. West Ham, it’s a real scrap for him.
“I wouldn’t say they have created too many goal scoring opportunities for him but he has shown a side of his game that has really improved.
“That’s closing down defenders, being disciplined in that striker’s role. I spoke to the Huddersfield manager as well and he couldn’t speak highly enough of him.
“It’s a real learning curve for Mipo playing in a relegation battle at League One, but he’s acquitted himself very well.”
Also in the squad as attacking options are Derby winger Festy Ebosele, Rotherham’s JJ Kayode and Evan Ferguson, who made his Premier League debut for Brighton last month.
Crawford said: “It's great for Evan to be involved, even training with the first team at Brighton will help him a lot.
“But making his debut against Burnley was a proud moment for his family and for me as well as I remember him playing at Kevin's at a very young age.
“Seeing him develop on through Bohemians, over to Brighton, I went to see him play a few times with the under-23s, and to eventually make his first team debut is a fantastic story for him.
“And he is level-headed enough to make sure that it doesn't get to him, that being a professional footballer is a long and winding road.
“He will be fine but I am delighted for him, you know yourself, if he breaks into the first team and scores goals at Brighton, he's certainly on Stephen's radar.”
There are five home-based players in all with Derry City’s Brian Maher, Sligo Rovers’ Luke McNicholas and St Patrick’s Athletic’s David Odumosu making up the three keepers.
Shamrock Rovers full-back Andy Lyons, Bohemians midfielder Dawson Devoy and UCD striker Collie Whelan also get the call.
Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (Derry City), Luke McNicholas (Cliftonville, on loan from Sligo Rovers), David Odumosu (St. Patrick’s Athletic)
Defenders: Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Eiran Cashin (Derby County), Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers), Mark McGuinness (Cardiff City), Jake O’Brien (Swindon Town, on loan from Crystal Palace), Lee O’Connor (Tranmere Rovers)
Midfielders: Conor Coventry (MK Dons, on loan from West Ham United), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Gavin Kilkenny (Bournemouth), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Ross Tierney (Motherwell)
Forwards: Festy Ebosele (Derby County), Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joshua 'JJ' Kayode (Rotherham United), Mipo Odubeko (Doncaster Rovers, on loan from West Ham United), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Colm Whelan (UCD), Tyreik Wright (Colchester United, on loan from Aston Villa)
