Watford pair Abankwah and Vata handed Ireland chance

Bristol City striker Sinclair Armstrong also returns to the squad for the first time since his international debut against the Netherlands in October 2023.

Stoke City's Junior Tchamadeu (left) and Watford's Rocco Vata battle for the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match at bet365 Stadium. Pic: Barrington Coombs/PA Wire.

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson has named a 23-man squad that includes Watford pair James Abankwah and Rocco Vata for the upcoming UEFA Nations League play-offs against Bulgaria.

Ireland are set to travel to Plovdiv, Bulgaria for the first leg of the promotion/relegation play-off on Thursday, March 20, with kick-off at 7.45pm (Irish Time), before returning to Dublin to face Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, March 23, with kick-off at 7.45pm, to decide Ireland's UEFA Nations League fate.