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Irish squad receives major boost with the return of striker Aaron Connolly

The Republic of Ireland squad has been boosted by the return of striker Aaron Connolly for the UE...



Irish squad receives major boo...
Soccer

Irish squad receives major boost with the return of striker Aaron Connolly

The Republic of Ireland squad has been boosted by the return of striker Aaron Connolly for the UEFA Nations League match against Finland on Wednesday. 

The 20-year-old has been given permission by his club, Brighton, and by the HSE to rejoin Stephen Kenny's senior squad.

Connolly travelled back to Dublin this morning and joins the five players who linked up with the squad last night; Dara O'Shea, Jason Knight, Ryan Manning, Ronan Curtis and Adam Idah who, along with Connolly, was forced to drop out of the squad for last week's UEFA Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Slovakia.

Both players had travelled to Bratislava but were left out of the matchday squad to self-isolate, as per HSE guidelines, after they sat on the plane within two metres of a non-playing FAI staff member who returned a positive test for Covid-19 in Slovakia.

The test was subsequently revealed to be a false positive and last night Idah was given permission by his club, Norwich City, to rejoin the Irish squad.

The Ireland squad and backroom staff were tested for COVID-19 at their Dublin base on Sunday night with results due on Monday afternoon and they will fly to Finland tomorrow for the match.

Republic of Ireland squad v Finland

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Bournemouth).

Defenders: Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Kevin Long (Burnley), Cyrus Christie (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Fulham), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion).

Midfielders: Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Jayson Molumby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Jason Knight (Derby County), Ryan Manning (Queens Park Rangers).

Forwards: Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Shane Long (Southampton), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth).

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Read more about

Aaron Connolly Adam Idah Finland Republic Of Ireland Stephen Kenny Uefa Nations League