MICK McCarthy has included forwards Padraig Amond and James Collins in the first squad of his second spell as Republic of Ireland manager.
Newport’s Amond has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, including five in the Exiles’ memorable FA Cup run, while Luton’s Collins has netted 20 times.
They are two of three players in the 38-man provisional squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia to have been handed a first senior call-up, with the other being Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers.
Keiren Westwood, Stephen Ward, Aiden McGeady, James McCarthy, Glenn Whelan and David McGoldrick have each earned recalls.
Injury has ruled out Ciaran Clark, Callum Robinson, Jonathan Walters and Michael Obafemi, while West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, who won the most recent of his three Republic of Ireland caps in June, has switched allegiance to England.
The Republic, who appointed McCarthy as successor to Martin O’Neill in November, face Gibraltar away on March 23 and Georgia at home three days later. The squad will be finalised on March 17.
Aston Villa midfielder Whelan, 35, returns after making an 85th and what appeared to be final appearance for his country in the penultimate game of O’Neill’s tenure, November’s draw against Northern Ireland.
While Patrick Bamford is not involved this time, McCarthy has confirmed the Leeds and former England U21 striker is keen to be a part of the set-up.
McCarthy said at a press conference in Dublin: “My last contact with him was (at the weekend) after they (Leeds) won on Friday night (4-0 against West Brom, with Bamford scoring twice).
“I just congratulated him on his goals – one was a sublime finish – and just asked him if he still wanted to join us, and he said ‘yes’, and I’m hoping to meet him. So I haven’t given up on it at all.
“If he does, its got to be June (when the Republic face Denmark away and host Gibraltar) now because we’re not going to get it for these games. But I’ve made that clear to him and I’m hoping to see him ASAP.
“I asked him the question, ‘is it still the same, do you still want to join us?’ ‘Yes’ was the answer. And so then it’s a matter of meeting and just having a chat with him. I stressed to him if he wants to be involved in June, we’ll have to get it done as quickly as possible.”
As well as this squad, Travers and Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher will also be part of Stephen Kenny’s U21 squad for their home match against Luxembourg on March 24. McCarthy will then have the option to draft them into the senior squad ahead of the Georgia clash.
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph, Keiren Westwood, Caoimhin Kelleher, Kieran O’Hara, Mark Travers
Defenders: Seamus Coleman, Matt Doherty, Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh, John Egan, Shane Duffy, Kevin Long, Jimmy Dunne, Enda Stevens, Derrick Williams, Stephen Ward
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady, Alan Judge, James McCarthy, Jeff Hendrick, Conor Hourihane, Alan Browne, Harry Arter, Glenn Whelan, David Meyler, Shaun Williams, Robbie Brady, Callum O’Dowda, James McClean, Daryl Horgan
Forwards: Shane Long, Sean Maguire, Ronan Curtis, Scott Hogan, Aiden O’Brien, David McGoldrick, James Collins, Padraig Amond
