Tottenham Hotspur's teenage striker Troy Parrott will be in the Ireland squad proper for the key qualifier against Denmark and friendly with New Zealand.
The 17-year-old will make the final cut for the first time, and Ireland boss Mick McCarthy is also confident that crocked trio Darren Randolph, Glenn Whelan and Matt Doherty will be available for that must win clash with the Danes.
“I can confirm that Troy will be on the list,” said McCarthy of the Ireland Under-21 star who was an unused sub in Spurs’ draw at Everton yesterday.
“I spoke to Stephen Kenny at our monthly manager’s meeting on Monday and told him that Troy and Aaron Connolly will be with the senior squad next week.
“Stephen will also announce his squad (on Wednesday) for the games against Armenia and Sweden so it was important to let him know what I am doing ahead of that.
“Troy has been pushing for this step-up for some time now and I look forward to seeing him on the training ground - I hope he pushes me to include him against New Zealand.
McCarthy - who will reveal his final squad on Thursday - is hopeful that Randolph (thigh), Whelan (hamstring) and Doherty (knee) will be passed fit.
Randolph has missed three games on the spin for Middlesbrough while Doherty and Whelan limped off against Arsenal and Rangers respectively.
McCarthy said: “I’ve been in touch with all three and they assured me they are confident of being fit to play.
“Glenn felt a twinge in his hamstring but expects to be fine to link up with the squad on Sunday as planned.
“Matt has told me the decision to take him off against Arsenal was a precaution more than anything else while Darren continues to make progress.”
McCarthy confirmed that his backup goalkeepers will be Kieran O’Hara and Mark Travers with Caoimhin Kelleher reverting back to Under-21 duty.
Wolves star Doherty said of his injury: "It was my right knee, I just fell on it. I just had that strong deflection and the way my knee is at the moment it is not really that good for it.
"Obviously if I could have continued, I would have continued. But I just felt like I could not run properly. So it was probably better for me to come off."
John Egan came off in Sheffield United’s win over Burnley because of illness and will be available while Robbie Brady got another half an hour under his belt in that game.
McCarthy was at the FAI Cup final on Sunday to run the rule over Shamrock Rovers playmaker Jack Byrne and said: “He gave me plenty of food for thought.”
