Republic of Ireland Men's Under-17s will take on Belgium in a friendly double-header in Spain this week as they prepare for the Elite Round of the UEFA Under-17s European Championship Qualifiers next month.

Head Coach Colin O'Brien has named a 20-man squad for the behind-closed-doors friendlies taking place in Marbella on Thursday (February 10 ) and Saturday (February 12).

O’Brien has handed first Ireland call-ups to five players; Honved Budapest defender Ivan Savshak, Dundalk’s Senan Mullen, Shamrock Rovers’ Pharrell Manuel, St. Patrick’s Athletic’s Sean McHale and UCD’s Dan McHale.

Ireland face a tough round of qualifiers where they'll meet Elite Round hosts Portugal (March 23), followed by Finland (March 26) and Bulgaria (March 29).

Fifteen teams will advance from eight groups of the Elite Round phase and will join Israel, who qualified automatically as hosts.

Republic of Ireland Men's Under-17 Squad

Goalkeepers: Fintan Doherty (Derry City), Conor Walsh (Sligo Rovers)

Defenders: Sam Curtis (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Sean Mackey (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Pharrell Manuel (Shamrock Rovers), Dan McHale (UCD), Sean McHale (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Luke O’Brien (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Ivan Savshak (Honved Budapest)

Midfielders: Justin Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers), Darius Lipsiuc (St. Patrick’s Athletic), James McManus (Bohemians), Senan Mullen (Dundalk), Adam Murphy (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Daniel Negry-McGrath (Bohemians), Rocco Vata (Celtic)

Forwards: Caden McLoughlin (Villarreal), Mark O’Mahony (Cork City), Gideon Tetteh (Shamrock Rovers), Franco Umeh (Cork City)

International Friendly Fixtures (all kick-off times are Irish time)

Thursday, February 10 | Ireland MU17 v Belgium MU17, Dama de Noche Football Pitches, Marbella, Spain, KO 2.30pm

Saturday, February 12 | Ireland MU17 v Belgium MU17, Dama de Noche Football Pitches, Marbella, Spain, KO 2.30pm