Caoimhin Kelleher has been confirmed as Ireland’s starting goalkeeper in tomorrow’s friendly with Belgium and Tuesday’s clash with Lithuania.
The Liverpool ace, 23, steps up after regular No 1 Gavin Bazunu, 20, was forced to withdraw from the squad yesterday because of illness.
Kelleher, who recently clinched Carabao Cup glory for Liverpool in a dramatic shootout, has had to be patient with just two caps to date.
Ireland boss Stephen Kenny said today: “Caoimhin will definitely start, that's absolutely right, for sure. He'll most likely play the two matches now, I think it's fair to say.
“And deservedly so. He's had to be patient because of an unfortunate injury.
“He missed the last March camp with injury and Gavin Bazunu has come in and been absolutely outstanding.
“We're on a run of four-and-a-half games now consecutively without conceding a goal - and Caoimhin has played his part in that because he played against Qatar.
“In Caoimhin's two matches to date against Qatar and Hungary, he hasn't conceded a goal either, so he deserves his chance because he's been absolutely excellent.”
Kenny also confirmed that Ireland have no further injury concerns going into the Aviva Stadium clash with the world’s No 1-ranked side.
Captain Seamus Coleman feels the Irish senior team is blessed to have goalkeepers as talented as Kelleher and Bazunu.
Coleman said: “Listen, it’s early days and you don’t want to put too much pressure on them at the minute.
“But to be completely honest, they are two exceptional goalkeepers. What we see in training on a daily basis from both of them is to a very, very high standard.
“They are both very humble lads which is important, and both very eager to have a career in the game.
“It’s early days for them but if they keep that mentality along with that quality they can go a long way.”
Bohemians’s James Talbot and Max O’Leary of Bristol City are Kelleher’s back-up goalkeepers after Mark Travers and Bazunu pulled out of the double-header.
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