'A high potential player' - Cork's Jaden Umeh called up to Ireland squad for friendly against Grenada
IRELAND'S CALL-UP: Cork's Jaden Umeh has been called up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for their friendly against Grenada. Pic: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile.
Heimir Hallgrimsson admits Corkman Jaden Umeh is one for Ireland’s future but that could be soon if he impresses in next week’s training camp in Spain.
The 18-year-old has caught the eye with her performances in Benfica’s U21s and Hallgrimsson has mirrored Jose Mourinho’s policy of fast-tracking him for senior duty.
Umeh – whose older brother Franco plays for Portsmouth – joined the Portuguese giants at 16 from Cork City after becoming the club’s youngest ever debutant at just 15 years and 230 days in November 2023.
The Mahon native made his Ireland U21 debut last month just a week after turning 18 and will have his manager from that age-group, Jim Crawford, joining the camp in place of Paddy McCarthy due to his coaching commitments with Crystal Palace.
Umeh is one of seven players receiving their first senior international call-ups for an experimental squad the Ireland manager sees as essential for planning, The camp concludes with a friendly against Grenada in Murcia on Saturday week, with a second squad chosen immediately afterwards for the other warm-up games against Qatar (May 28) and Canada (June 4).
"From what we've seen, he is a high potential player,” said Hallgrimsson of Umeh.
“We don't know what his limit will be but it is exciting to work with him and see what his limitations are.
“But, from what we've seen with youth teams and clips from Benfica, an exciting player, one for the future, if he is ready for the first team we will have to wait and see."
Sammie Szmodics, Robbie Brady, Jack Taylor and Harvey Vale weren’t considered due to injuries but Dara O’Shea, fresh from leading Ipswich Town back to the Premier League at the weekend as an ever-present, will lead the delegation in Spain.
“It's a first friendly camp I've been in since I came so it's good to see those players,” added the manager.
“But we still want them to be the leaders and we'd like them to step up in this camp as well.
“So it's not only to look at new faces and new players and deepen the squad, it's also to get to know our players better, to have good daily habits in the camps.”
Meanwhile, Hallgrimsson is adamant there’s no fear of losing Owen Eliding to England.
The former Sligo Rovers striker has hit the ground running since joining Scottish top-flight outfit Hibernian, earning admirers from clubs and countries.
As the English-born forward is awaiting his Irish citizenship, he could technically switch but the Ireland boss is operating on the basis of having the 20-year-old available for the Uefa Nations League campaign kicking off in September.
“I heard of the report, so I just called him this morning and said I was going to a press conference,” he explained.
“So I just wanted to have his word for it. Is he committed to Ireland? 100% he is.
“And even though he cannot play the games against Qatar and Canada, we might even bring him in, just to have him around the squad in May and June.
“But he's committed to us so I'm not worried about that one.”
Max O'Leary (West Bromwich Albion), Josh Keeley (Luton Town), Killian Cahill (Leyton Orient).
Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Eiran Cashin (Blackburn Rovers - loan), James Abankwah (Watford), Mark McGuinness (Sheffield United), Tayo Adaramola (Sheffield Wednesday - loan), Joel Bagan (Cardiff City).
Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic), Andrew Moran (Preston North End).
Adam Idah (Swansea City), Tom Cannon (Sheffield United), Chiedozie Ogbene (Sheffield United - loan), Kasey McAteer (Ipswich Town), Millenic Alli (Portsmouth), Jack Moylan (Lincoln City), Aidomo Emakhu (Oxford United), Jaden Umeh (Benfica).
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