Ireland training camp: Chance for Cannon to impress ahead of June qualifiers

placeholder image — Ireland training camp: Chance for Cannon to impress ahead of June qualifiers. PIC: Sportsfile

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has named a 22-man squad for a training camp to take place in Bristol ahead of two crucial Euro 2024 qualifiers against Greece (June 16) and Gibraltar (June 19).

Among those names included in the squad is 20-year-old attacker Tom Cannon.

The Everton man, who has impressed on loan at Championship outfit Preston during the 2022/23 campaign, was involved with the Irish under-21 set-up in March and now makes the step up to the senior fold for next week's training camp.

The Aintree-born striker netted eight goals in the English second tier this season where he played alongside fellow Irish internationals Troy Parrott and Alan Browne.

The four-day camp will offer players such as Cannon the opportunity to show what they can do. It is their chance to impress the management team and potentially put themselves in the mix for the upcoming qualifiers. Swansea's Ryan Manning is another name that will be keen to catch Kenny's eye after being overlooked at international level on numerous occasions.

Ireland began their qualifying campaign with a narrow 1-0 home loss to World Cup runners-up France in March.

Next up is a trip to Athens to face a Greek side ranked 52nd in the world before the Boys in Green host Gibraltar at the Aviva Stadium three days later.

Ireland Squad - Bristol Training Camp

Squad: Max O'Leary (Bristol City), James Talbot (Bohemians), Brian Maher (Derry City); Danny McNamara (Millwall), Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), John Egan (Sheffield United), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Sean McLaughlin (Hull City); Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Josh Cullen (Burnley), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Mark Sykes (Bristol City), Neil Farrugia (Shamrock Rovers), Jason Knight (Derby County); Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United), Tom Cannon (Everton), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Michael Obafemi (Burnley), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Will Keane (Wigan Athletic).