Killian Phillips Joins Republic of Ireland Squad After Injury Setbacks

Killian Phillips has been handed a late chance to stake his claim with the Republic of Ireland after a double injury setback rocked Heimir Hallgrimsson’s plans for the Nations League window.

The St Mirren midfielder has been drafted into the squad after Jamie McGrath and Harvey Vale were both forced to pull out following problems picked up on club duty at the weekend.

McGrath, with Hibernian, and Queens Park Rangers’ Vale each pulled up in the warm-up before their respective games against Aberdeen and Preston North End, immediately throwing their international involvement into serious doubt. The confirmation Ireland feared arrived on Monday morning: neither would be fit in time for the upcoming fixtures.

That opened the door for Phillips.

He will join up with the group in Dublin today, linking with his new team-mates before Ireland head to Pristina for Thursday’s Nations League opener against Kosovo. From there, the schedule turns into a demanding tour of the continent.

After Kosovo, the Boys in Green move on to Debrecen in Hungary to face Israel, then return home for a marquee clash with Austria at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The window finishes with a second meeting against Israel, this time in Bačka Topola, Serbia, rounding off a four-game block that will test Hallgrimsson’s reshaped squad in quick succession.

Ireland squad in full:

• Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Brentford), Max O'Leary (West Bromwich Albion), Gavin Bazunu (Bolton Wanderers)
• Defenders: James Abankwah (Udinese), Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers), John Egan (Hull City), Liam Kitching (Sheffield United), Ryan Manning (Southampton), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Liam Scales (Celtic)
• Midfielders: Finn Azaz (Southampton), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City), Killian Phillips (St Mirren)
• Forwards: Owen Elding (Hibernian), Adam Idah (Swansea City), Jack Moylan (Cardiff City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Lincoln City), Troy Parrott (Real Betis), Rocco Vata (Watford), Tom Cannon (Sheffield United)

For Phillips, it is an unexpected opening. For Hallgrimsson, it is an early test of depth before a ball has even been kicked in the Nations League.