Joe Hodge and Mason Melia have been ruled out of Ireland Under-21s’ qualifiers against Norway and Italy this coming week.

After assessments by the Ireland medical team, both players won’t play a part in the upcoming games due to pre-existing injuries picked-up ahead of the squad meeting on Sunday evening.

Ireland will face Norway at Turner’s Cross tomorrow (Friday, October 11) at 7pm knowing a win will secure a play-off place for qualification to next summer’s Under-21 European Championship. They fly to Italy on Saturday ahead of Tuesday’s game in Trieste (kick-off 5.30pm Irish time).

Republic of Ireland Under-21s Squad

Goalkeepers: Tiernan Brooks (Gateshead), Killian Cahill (Brighton & Hove Albion), Josh Keeley (Leyton Orient, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: James Abankwah (Udinese), Emmanuel Adegboyega (Dundee United, on loan from Norwich City), Tayo Adaramola (Stockport County, on loan from Crystal Palace) Sam Curtis (Peterborough United, on loan from Sheffield United), Anselmo Garcia-MacNulty (PEC Zwolle), Connor O’Brien (Accrington Stanley), Connor O’Riordan (Cambridge United, on loan from Blackburn Rovers), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)

Midfielders: Baba Adeeko (Wigan Athletic), Matt Healy (Royal Francs Borains), Andrew Moran (Stoke City, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Killian Phillips (St. Mirren, on loan from Crystal Palace), Rocco Vata (Watford)

Forwards: Sinclair Armstrong (Bristol City), Aidomo Emakhu (Millwall), Johnny Kenny (Shamrock Rovers), Mark O’Mahony (Portsmouth, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Franco Umeh (Crystal Palace)
 
UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier (Kick-Off time is Irish time) 
Friday, October 11 | Ireland U21 v Norway U21, Turner's Cross Stadium, Cork, Kick-Off 7pm.
Tuesday, October 15 | Italy U21 v Ireland U21, Stadio Nereo Rocco, Trieste, Italy, Kick-Off 5.30pm