Ireland Under-21 boss Jim Crawford believes Festy Ebosele’s time so far in Serie A has helped improve the former Derby star.
Ebosele made 41 first-team appearances for the Rams before last summer’s move to Italy.
So far he has appeared seven times for Udinese - and the experience has been a positive one, according to Crawford.
He has named the Wexford native in his squad for this month’s friendly against Iceland in Turner’s Cross.
“He plays in Serie A, he’s played games there, he’s held his own at that level, albeit he’s playing wingback,” said Crawford.
“He’s enjoying it over there, he says that training is really challenging, it's certainly a lot more tactical than what he’s been used to. But I think that will add to him as a player.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Festy again, he’s a really nice guy.
“I remember him growing up in his Joey’s days even when he was a raw winger took him from a Wexford club, and he lit up Sallynoggin with his pace, power and goals.
“So he’s delighted to come in and I was happy with that.”
Crawford added that Ebosele is ready to make up for lost time with the 21s.
“I do know he’s delighted to come in with the 21s. I spoke to him yesterday and he was over the moon with the call-up,” he said.
“You know Festy probably would have thought he would have played more minutes against Israel in the play-offs (for this summer’s European Championships).
“It’s just that it was a massive game that we needed players who were fit, match fit, to play in a historic game with regards to the 21s level.
“I do know he was disappointed and that’s a fact. I had to make a decision.
“The phone call I had with him the other day about the Under-21s, he was ecstatic, delighted, and again it gives the Cork public a real opportunity to come down and see the qualities he has.”
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Tiernan Brooks (Notts County), Jimmy Corcoran (Cork City), Josh Keeley (Tottenham Hotspur)
Defenders: Tayo Adaramola (Crystal Palace), Festy Ebosele (Udinese), James Furlong (Motherwell, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (NAC Breda, on loan from Wolfsburg), Connor O’Riordan (Crewe Alexandra), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)
Midfielders: Cian Hayes (Fleetwood Town), Matt Healy (Cork City, on loan from Ipswich Town), Joe Hodge (Wolves), Bosun Lawal (Celtic), Killian Phillips (Shrewsbury Town, on loan from Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Sinclair Armstrong (QPR), Tom Cannon (Preston North End, on loan from Everton), Johnny Kenny (Shamrock Rovers, on loan from Celtic), Andrew Moran (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ollie O’Neill (Derry City, on loan from Fulham), Armstrong Okoflex (West Ham United)
MATCH
Sunday March 26: Ireland U21 v Iceland U21 (Turner’s Cross, 4pm - live on LOITV)
