Collins and Travers named in Ireland squad for crucial fixtures
Ireland captain Nathan Collins will be looking to lead his country to qualification for the World Cup during the upcoming international window Photo: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Kildare’s Nathan Collins and Mark Travers have been named by Republic of Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson in a 25-man squad for the upcoming UEFA European Qualifier play-offs against Czechia and either Denmark or North Macedonia.
The team will first travel to Prague to face Czechia in the play-off semi-final on Thursday, March 26, with kick-off at 7.45pm (8.45pm local time). They will then return to Dublin for the second match of the window at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, March 31, with kick-off at 7.45pm, where they will face either Denmark and North Macedonia.
Ireland captain Collins has featured prominently for the Keith Andrews managed Brentford as they chase European qualification through the Premier League and he will be expected to be a hugely important figure at the heart of the Irish defence.
Travers has found first team football hard to come by since moving to Everton last summer and has played the role of understudy to Jordan Pickford and will do the same in the Ireland squad to Collins’ Brentford team mate Caoimhin Kelleher.
Elsewhere, the squad features a number of key returns and new inclusions as Ireland looks to secure a place at the FIFA World Cup 2026. QPR midfielder Harvey Vale receives his first call-up for Ireland after his FIFA clearance came through earlier this month.
Forward Sammie Szmodics receives a recall following his impressive loan spell at Derby County, while Stoke City midfielder Bosun Lawal also returns after recovering from injury. Striker Adam Idah has also been passed fit and is named in the squad for the two crucial fixtures.
Defender Liam Scales is included but will be suspended for the first match against Czechia.
There is a welcome return to the international setup for Robbie Brady, who is named in the squad for the first time since June 2025. The experienced winger missed the entire qualification campaign through injury but has regained his fitness in time for the March play-offs.
Following his excellent form for Watford, defender James Abankwah, who spent some of his youth living in Celbridge, earns a call-up, and there is a recall for midfielder Alan Browne for the first time in 18 months, rewarding his strong performances for Championship promotion-hopefuls Middlesbrough.
In goal, Luton Town's Josh Keeley returns to the squad, with regular goalkeepers Gavin Bazunu and Max O'Leary both ruled out of this international window through injury.
Caoimhín Kelleher (Brentford), Mark Travers (Everton), Josh Keeley (Luton Town).
Seamus Coleman (Everton), Jimmy Dunne (QPR), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Jake O'Brien (Everton), John Egan (Hull City), James Abankwah (Watford), Liam Scales (Celtic)*, Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), Alan Browne (Middlesbrough), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Finn Azaz (Southampton), Harvey Vale (QPR).
Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Adam Idah (Swansea City), Johnny Kenny (Bolton Wanderers, on loan from Celtic), Chiedozie Ogbene (Sheffield United, on loan from Ipswich Town), Sammie Szmodics (Derby County, on loan from Ipswich Town) *Suspended for Czechia game
