Inter Milan forward Kevin Zefi has been named in the Republic of Ireland under-17 squad for two friendlies against Mexico.
Zefi completed a move to the Italian champions from Shamrock Rovers earlier this summer and he's part of a 20 player group for the matches at Turner's Cross.
Manager Colin O'Brien has also called up Villarreal's Caden McLoughlin and Celtic academy midfielder Rocca Vata, with the other 17 players all home based.
“To get this level of opposition is a real huge plus for us,” O’Brien said of the upcoming games with Mexico.
“Mexico is a real powerhouse at this age group if you research and examine their age groups in the past couple of years they’re a World Cup standard team and that will the standard over the two games we will be playing.
“It’s a very ‘homebased squad’ and it’s the first squad we’re going to see around the Brexit situation but the players are well into their season and we’ve done a lot of homebased assessments and training camps over the last few months and a lot of games watched.
“We’ve 20 players ready to represent the Republic of Ireland U7s against high-level opposition so the players are going to be really tested here, both collectively and individually, and it will give them a good measure to where they’re at.”
Colin O’Brien names U17 squad for a double header against Mexico 🇮🇪🇲🇽
600 tickets have been available for the games at Turner’s Cross 🙌
📆 Sun, 05/09 | KO 7pm
📆 Tues, 05/09 | KO 12pmFull details and preview 👉 https://t.co/gROk1dPTms#IRLU17 | #COYBIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/0ImjdEKULK
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) September 2, 2021
Goalkeepers: Fintan Doherty (Derry City), Conor Walsh (Sligo Rovers)
Defenders: Luke Browne (Shelbourne), Sam Curtis (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Cathal Heffernan (Cork City), Ruadhan Kane (Klub Kildare), Daniel Kelly (Sligo Rovers), Luke O’Brien (St. Patrick’s Athletic)
Midfielders: Justin Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers), Gavin Hodgins (Shelbourne), Darius Lipsivc (St. Patrick’s Athletic), James McManus (Bohemians), Rocco Vata (Celtic)
Forwards: Trent Kone Doherty (Derry City), Mark O’Mahony (Cork City), Caden McLoughlin (Villareal), Liam Murray (Cork City), Alex Nolan (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Franco Umeh (Cork City), Kevin Zefi (Inter Milan)
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