Melia receives first Republic of Ireland call-up
Teenager Melia has scored three goals for Republic of Ireland's under-21s
- Published
Tottenham Hotspur teenage striker Mason Melia has received his first senior call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad for their upcoming friendlies against Qatar and Canada.
Heimir Hallgrimsson has also named four players from the League of Ireland in his 24-man squad, but there is no place for Lincoln City midfielder Jack Moylan, who scored a hat-trick on his debut in their 5-0 friendly win against Grenada on Saturday.
Melia broke through at St Patrick's Athletic in 2023, scoring 21 goals in 76 appearances in the League of Ireland before he moved to Spurs in January of this year for a fee of £1.6m.
The 18-year-old has scored three goals in his six caps for the Republic of Ireland under-21s.
Shamrock Rovers duo Ed McGinty and Adam Brennan are included for the first time alongside Bohemians midfielder Dawson Devoy and Cork City goalkeeper Conor Brann.
Lecce defender Corrie Ndaba, Newcastle United's Alex Murphy, Middlesbrough midfielder Alex Gilbert and Tondela's Joe Hodge have all also received their maiden call-ups while Benfica striker Jaden Umeh is again included after his club withdrew him from the squad for the Grenada friendly.
James Abankwah, Jayson Molumby and Chiedozie Ogbene are the only three players that were in the recent squad for the Murcia friendly to be retained.
Seamus Coleman, who recently announced his departure from Everton, is included for potentially the last time as he weighs up his future and potential retirement.
Hibernian striker Owen Elding has been invited to train with the squad but is not yet eligible to feature.
Hallgrimsson's side will face Qatar at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, 26 May before travelling to Montreal to take on World Cup co-hosts Canada on Saturday, 6 June.
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Brentford), Ed McGinty (Shamrock Rovers), Conor Brann (Cork City), Mark Travers (Everton).
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Liam Scales (Celtic), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Andrew Omobamidele (Strasbourg), Corrie Ndaba (Lecce), James Abankwah (Watford), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United).
Midfielders: Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Browne (Middlesbrough), Finn Azaz (Southampton), Joe Hodge (Tondela), Alex Gilbert (Middlesbrough), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians).
Attackers: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Jaden Umeh (Benfica), Mason Melia (Tottenham Hotspur), Chiedozie Ogbene (Ipswich Town), Ryan Manning (Southampton), Adam Brennan (Shammrock Rovers).
