Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Shane Long is back in contention for a role against Slovakia.
And his Southampton team-mate Michael Obafemi is also in the Euro playoff mix after impressing the Ireland boss at the weekend.
While McCarthy had Obafemi - capped once under Martin O’Neill - watched before, he saw him live for the first time in the FA Cup draw with Tottenham.
Obafemi, 19, has been dogged by injuries but McCarthy said: “I liked what I saw.
“He linked up well with Danny Ings, he got in behind the Spurs defence and while he didn’t have that many shots, he was a constant nuisance.
“Michael did all the things I expected of him.
“We had Southampton watched when they won at Crystal Palace and the reports on Michael, Shane and James McCarthy were all very positive.
“Michael is benefitting from regular first team football and he gave me something to think about. I’ll watch him again and have a look at Shane.”
Long missed the FA Cup game with a knee issue but has been back in the Saints side of late.
At one stage his Ireland career appeared to be slipping away from him but McCarthy insists the 33-year-old striker will be considered once fit.
“I’ve kept in regular contact with Shane and I’ve repeatedly told him that his return to form with his club will count for March,” he said in an FAI statement.
Glenn Whelan’s move to Fleetwood Town keeps him in the midfield picture for Bratislava while McCarthy is also keeping tabs on Stephen Kenny’s Under-21s.
“Jayson Molumby is impressing everyone at Millwall and Jason Knight, Conor Masterson and Dara O’Shea are taking their chance in the Championship,” he added.
“I know March is a long way off but there’s a feel good factor about the players and long may that continue.”
