Ireland Boys’ Under-16 Head Coach Paul Osam has named a 20-player squad for an International Friendly against Belgium this Sunday.

Ireland will head to the Royal Belgium FA HQ in Tubize for their first game of the season against the Red Devils with the game serving as preparation for the Victory Shield, which takes place in Cumbernauld, Scotland the week of October 7.

There are first-time call-ups for UCD’s Leighton Dempsey and Shamrock Rovers’ Jack Greene.

Speaking ahead of the game Head Coach Paul Osam said: “I’m looking forward to to the game and it won’t come much tougher than playing away in Belgium. They’ll be a tough test for our team, they’re a nation that have a good talent pool of players so it’s for our players to show what they’re capable of. 

“Our next games will be the Victory Shield so it’s an opportunity for players from this group to stand out and stake a claim to be involved.”

Republic of Ireland Boys’ Under-16s 

Goalkeepers: Darragh Brunton (St. Patrick’s Athletic), George Moloney (Southampton) 

Defenders: Danny Burke (Shamrock Rovers), Leighton Dempsey (UCD), Ben Dumigan (Cork City), Aidan Gabbidon (Sligo Rovers), Jack Greene (Shamrock Rovers), Tadgh Prizeman (Shamrock Rovers), Séan Spaight (Dundalk)

Midfielders: Brody Collins (Shamrock Rovers), Richard Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers), Tom McGrath (Cork City), Jason Spelman (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Niall Sullivan (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

Forwards: Desmond  Armstrong (Shamrock Rovers), Joe Byrne (St. Patrick’s Athletic), David Dunne (Cork City),  Evidence Ikechukwu (Shamrock Rovers), TJ Molloy (Dundalk), Samuel Ogungbe (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

International Friendly Fixture 

Sunday, September 29 | Belgium v Ireland, Proximus Basecamp, Royal Belgium FA HQ, Tubize, Belgium, KO 12.30pm (Irish time)