Four players have received their first international call-up from Republic of Ireland Under-16 head coach Paul Osam ahead of the squad's trip to Turkey.
St Patrick’s Athletic pair Gerard Killane and Jack O’Reilly, as well as Dara McGuinness (Shamrock Rovers) and Harry Nevin (Cork City) have been included in a squad of 20 players for the friendly tournament.
The young Boys in Green are set to face Tanzania, Turkey and Kosovo in the Aegean Cup before competing in a playoff game on Tuesday, January 21.
Osam was happy to reward the new internationals for the good from displayed with their respective clubs.
"We've four players who have received a first international call-up and it’s a first call-up of the season for Zayd Abada," said Osam.
"The players have done well with their clubs and their hard work has been rewarded with a place in the squad. It’s a good group and we’re looking forward to going out and playing some top opposition."
The head coach is looking forward to the variety of challenges his players will face.
"We're used to playing European sides so Tanzania will be an unknown quantity for us," added Osam. "It will be a good test but the focus will ultimately be on our game plan and what we can do.
"Turkey have traditionally had a strong underage teams and this side has beaten Portugal and Serbia. They’re the host nation so it will be a challenge, but make no mistake we’ll be prepared for it.
"Likewise with Kosovo, while not much will be known about them, the focus will be on our game plan and the strengths we possess and the problems we can cause the opposition."
Osam is keen to see his players develop and progress to the higher age grades.
"At Under-16 level it is crucial to provide Colin O’Brien [Ireland Under-17 Head Coach] with a group of players who can go on and qualify for the European Championships.
"If you look at Colin's team that qualified for the Elite Round in November the main bulk of that squad were with me at Under-16s, so continuity is vital.
"Tournaments like these play such an important part to that development."
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Jack Ross (Bray Wanderers), Reece Byrne (Bohemians)
Defenders: John Ryan (Shamrock Rovers), Gerard Killane (St Patrick’s Athletic), Darragh Reilly (Sligo Rovers), James Abankwah (St Patrick’s Athletic), Aaron O’Reilly (St Patrick’s Athletic), Conor Barrett (Birmingham City), Sean Grehan (Bohemians), Harry Nevin (Cork City)
Midfielders: Glory Nzingo (St Patrick’s Athletic), Jamie Mullins (Bohemians), Zayd Abada (Shamrock Rovers), Ben Curtis (Shamrock Rovers), John Joe Power (Burton Albion)
Forwards: Cian Kelly Caprani (Bohemians) (no. 7 pictured above), Tom Lonergan (St Patrick’s Athletic), Dara McGuinness (Shamrock Rovers), Edwin Agbaje (Shamrock Rovers), Jack O’Reilly (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Fixtures
January 15 – Ireland v Tanzania, Altinordu Gündüz Teki̇n Onay Sahasi, Turkey, KO 9am (Irish time)
January 17 – Turkey v Ireland, Altinordu Serpi̇l Hamdi̇ Tüzün Sahasi, Turkey, KO 11.30am (Irish time)
January 19 – Ireland v Kosovo, Altinordu Gündüz Teki̇n Onay Sahasi, Turkey, KO 9am (Irish time)
January 21 – Playoff Fixture, venue TBC, KO 9am (Irish time) / Final, Altinordu Serpi̇l Hamdi̇ Tüzün Sahasi, Turkey, KO 11.30am (Irish time)
