Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy admits he could wait until the end of next week to confirm his final squad for the upcoming matches with Bulgaria and Switzerland. 

McCarthy says he needs to wait and see how much game-time some of the players in his extended 40-man group get this weekend before cutting the squad down to 23 players.

Burnley duo Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady and Southampton's Shane Long are yet to play in the Premier League this term and the Ireland boss says that's a worry.

“Our main concern at the moment is still about players getting games but Darren Randolph and Keiren Westwood are playing well, the four Sheffield United players are all starting as is Scott Hogan while Robbie Brady is still recovering from his rib injury,” McCarthy told FAI.ie.

“I have no doubts about Jeff’s ability or his fitness, he has covered so much ground for us in this European Championship already as the stats prove, but like all our players, he needs to play.

“He might feature against Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday and Jeff should be involved in the League Cup game at home to Sunderland next Wednesday night which we will have scouted. I might just delay naming the final squad until after those League Cup games on Tuesday and Wednesday night to see how our players get on.”

McCarthy says he's also been impressed by Jack Byrne, Harry Arter and Josh Cullen in recent weeks.

“Josh was brilliant for Charlton, ge has really taken to the Championship since he went back to Charlton on loan from West Ham and he was busy throughout Wednesday night’s game, playing in their diamond and getting forward at every opportunity. I was really impressed with him.

“Harry was really good against Millwall and I am going to have a look at him myself on Saturday when Fulham are at home to Forest while Jack’s two goals at Waterford on Monday were very special".