Jim Crawford has insisted that the door is not shut on Mipo Odubeko returning to the international fold - but that the ball is firmly in the West Ham prospect’s court.
Dubliner Odubeko won’t feature in next week’s European qualifiers away to Bosnia and Luxembourg.
The former St Joseph’s Boys striker, who is also eligible to play for Nigeria, hasn’t lined out for Ireland since Under-17 level.
Crawford said: “I am fed up talking about it at the minute. It is what it is. It’s in his hands, it’s his choice, it’s his decision and we’ll carry on regardless.
“I’m more than happy with the players who have been included in the squad and that’s who I’m concentrating on.
“There were players left out, there were a lot of hard calls to make this week, players who were left out.
“I had a few hard phone calls with people who want to play for the Republic of Ireland.
“My concern is with this squad and the task in hand when we go to Bosnia and Luxembourg.
“All can say it’s his choice, his decision, we’ll move on.”
He is, however, open to Odubeko featuring in the future.
“If I get a phone call from his agent or Mipo himself, the lines of communication will always be open with me,” said Crawford.
“We have a small playing pool in comparison to other countries and we can never write off players who want to play for Ireland.
“If it takes him a year or two years, he will make a decision on it and we'll talk then.
“My interest is in the group of players we have now.
“I will never close the door on anybody, but if he wants to come in, he needs to understand the culture we have here with the Under-21s, the way we want to play.
“That's a conversation we will have, if he’s ever interested.
“Certainly I won’t be closing the door on him but I’ll also move on.”
Crawford has called up 24 players for the trips to Bosnia (September 3) and Luxembourg (September 7). There are debut calls for Brighton pair Evan Ferguson and Andrew Moran.
Cardiff City’s Joel Bagan and Crystal Palace’s Jake O’Brien are also new to the squad, as are Fulham’s Ollie O’Neill and Wolfsburg’s Anselmo Garcia MacNulty.
Getafe’s John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa isn’t part of the 24-strong panel but he will meet up with the group for training during the international window.
Goalkeepers: Sam Blair (Bury Town, on loan from Norwich City), Brian Maher (Bray Wanderers), Daniel Rose (Schalke 04).
Defenders: Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Andy Lyons (Bohemians), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (Wolfsburg), Oisin McEntee (Newcastle United), Mark McGuinness (Cardiff City), Jake O’Brien (Crystal Palace), Lee O’Connor (Celtic).
Midfielders: Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Ryan Johansson (Fortuna Sittard, on loan from Sevilla), Gavin Kilkenny (Bournemouth), Andrew Moran (Brighton and Hove Albion), Conor Noss (Borussia Möchengladbach), Ross Tierney (Bohemians), Louie Watson (Derby County).
Forwards: Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Ferry (Crawley Town, on loan from Southampton), Joshua ‘JJ’ Kayode (Rotherham United), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Colm Whelan (UCD), Tyreik Wright (Salford City, on loan from Aston Villa).
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