Coleman set for first senior cap

Everton defender Seamus Coleman has been handed his first senior call-up by the Republic of Ireland today.

The 21-year-old has been drafted into Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Russia and Slovakia after Stephen Kelly and Darren O’Dea were forced with withdraw because of injury.

Fulham’s Kelly is out with a calf problem while O’Dea, on loan at Ipswich from Celtic, has pulled out with a knee injury.

U-21 international Coleman has been added to the party which will meet up next Monday, while Preston midfielder Keith Treacy and CSKA Sofia striker Cillian Sheridan have been placed on stand-by.

Ireland leads Group B after victories over Armenia and Andorra in their opening fixtures last month.

Republic of Ireland aquad: Shay Given (Manchester City), Keiren Westwood (Coventry City), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United), John O’Shea (Manchester United), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Sean St Ledger (Preston North End), Greg Cunningham (Manchester City), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Paul McShane (Hull City), Kevin Kilbane (Hull City), Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Paul Green (Derby County), Liam Lawrence (Portsmouth), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Andy Keogh (Cardiff City), Damien Duff (Fulham), Keith Fahey (Birmingham City), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Shane Long (Reading).