James McCarthy, the 16-year-old Hamilton Academicals midfielder courted of late by Liverpool, has been called into the Republic of Ireland under-17 squad for the first time.
Although born in Scotland, McCarthy recently declared for the Republic and manager Sean McCaffrey is confident that decision will benefit Ireland ahead of the Uefa Elite phase qualifying series in March.
McCaffrey today named an 18-man squad to play two friendly matches against Italy later this month as preparation for those qualifiers in Germany.
McCarthy - eligible for Ireland through his Donegal-born grandfather - spent time on trial with Liverpool last month, impressing to such an extent that manager Rafael Benitez made a bid in the region of €1 million.
Reading, with whom he also trained, also submitted a bid but Hamilton have rejected both advances, with the player himself content to remain - for the time being at least - at a club he recently signed a three-year deal with.
"The recent decision of young James McCarthy to declare for us will help our cause in the Elite phase," McCaffrey said. "He has become a first-team regular at Hamilton Academicals and I'm excited about seeing him play for us against the Italians."
McCarthy made his full Hamilton debut in November, just one day before his 16th birthday, and last Saturday became the club's youngest ever scorer when finding the net in the Scottish Cup defeat to Livingston.
McCaffrey's side play Italy on January 23rd and 25th at Whitehall and Tolka Park respectively.
The double-header acts as preparation for the squad's under-17 Uefa Elite phase qualifying series, which takes place in Germany from March 21st - 26th.
Ireland will play Scotland, Greece and mini-group hosts Germany with only the group winner advancing to the finals in May to be held in Belgium.
Ireland defeated both Azerbaijan and Latvia, as well as drawing with Denmark, on their way to topping their Uefa first phase qualification group in September.
"The squad performed extremely well to win the first phase group in Azerbaijan but the quality of opposition is going to be a lot stronger when we get around to the Elite phase matches," said McCaffrey.
"It is vital, therefore, that we prepare for those matches properly and Italy - as one of Europe's finest nations at all levels - are bound to give us a good test."
• The Republic of Ireland under-15s won the second match of their three-game trip to Qatar against the Aspire Academy today. Jordan Phillpott scored the only goal of the game.
Rep of Ireland U17: Kieron Thorp - Crystal Palace, Kevin O'Brien - Cobh Ramblers, Gareth Matthews - Norwich City Mark Nolan - Glasgow Celtic, David Joyce - Birmingham City, Laurence Gaughan - Liverpool, Paul Honohan - Wilton, Cork, Conor Kavanagh - Blackburn Rovers, Kurtis Byrne - Norwich City, Conor McCormack - Manchester United, James O'Brien - Birmingham City, James McCarthy - Hamilton Academicals, Eric Foley - Glasgow Celtic, Shane O'Connor - Liverpool, Michael Collins - Liverpool, Ian Daly - Manchester City, Craig Duggan - Kilreen, Cork, Sean Scannell - Crystal Palace.
