Republic Of Ireland Weekly Update
Here you will find the latest updates for every Irish player home and abroad. How they got on in their last game, how their season is going so far and any injuries or suspensions to report.
Premier League Power Rankings – Best Irish Footballers of the Week
The latest updates on every Irish player in the Premier League:
Caoimhín Kelleher – Brentford (GK)
Kelleher played both games for Ireland in the final Group F qualifiers, producing excellent performances in outings against Portugal and Hungary.
He kept a clean sheet against Portugal, making five saves. Kelleher made five saves again against Hungary and made a number of elite stops to keep Ireland in the game.
Shockingly – in terms of goals prevented, Kelleher is the worst goalkeeper to have played in the Premier League this season at -4.34 per game. Brentford are 10th in the league table with six wins, a draw and six losses.
Kelleher made one save in Brentford’s 3-1 win over Burnley at the weekend.
Nathan Collins – Brentford (CB)
Collins played both games for Ireland against Portugal and Hungary, making a standout performance in the first game with ten clearances and four blocks.
He was impressive again in Budapest, making two interceptions, seven clearances, one block and two recoveries. The Ireland captain proved his worth to the team.
Collins’ played 90 minutes in Brentford’s 3-1 win against Burnley, recording 17 clearances and three interceptions.
Jake O’Brien – Everton (RB)
O’Brien started against Portugal and Hungary, making eight clearances in the first game. He was substituted at half-time in Budapest with Ireland 2-1 down.
At club level for Everton, O’Brien played 90 minutes in the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday evening. 11 of his league appearances this season have been starts.
Everton are next up away at Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Seamus Coleman – Everton (RB)
Seamus Coleman made his return to the Ireland squad for the first time since September 2024 ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Armenia. This was mainly down to Matt Doherty being ruled out with injury.
He stepped up to the plate big time in wins over Portugal and Hungary, proving that age is just a number. He started both and proved an impressive performer in the Irish backline.
Coleman has made a handful of appearances for Everton this season, largely serving as a leader and mentor for the younger players in the squad.
The Donegal man made a rare start against Manchester United on November 24, forced off with a hamstring injury after just ten minutes. Three starts in 11 days aren’t kind on a 37-year-old’s body.
Time to get him in bubble wrap before the play-offs in March.
Mark Travers – Everton (GK)
Like his teammate Coleman, Mark Travers’ opportunities at Everton have been limited this season. The goalkeeper has played just twice, both in the Carabao Cup in a 2-0 win over Mansfield and a 2-0 loss to Wolves.
Travers’ Everton face Bournemouth on December 2 where he is expected to remain as a backup to Toffees number one Jordan Pickford.
Travers is the third-choice goalkeeper behind Kelleher and Gavin Bazunu with Ireland.
Matt Doherty – Wolves (RB)
Doherty has made four starts in the league for Wolves this season.
Doherty had wrist surgery earlier this season but made his return to the fold in Wolves’ 2-0 loss to Sunderland on October 18, playing 67 minutes before being taken off.
He started in Wolves’ EFL Cup tie against Chelsea on October 29, exiting after 19 minutes with injury and has not featured in a squad since.
He was not included in Hallgrimsson’s Ireland squad for November.
Josh Cullen – Burnley (CM)
Cullen started in Ireland’s 2-0 win over Portugal and played 80 minutes in the historic victory vs Hungary.
Last time out domestically, Burnley captain Josh Cullen played 81 minutes of his side’s 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth. Cullen has started 13 times for Burnley in the league this season, scoring twice and adding one assist.
Burnley have nine defeats, a draw and three wins so far and look sure to be among the relegation fight come the end of the campaign.
Cullen’s Burnley are next up at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Championship Power Rankings – Best Irish Footballers of the Week
The latest updates on every Irish player in the Championship:
Gavin Bazunu – Southampton (GK)
Gavin Bazunu has been relegated to number two with Ireland following Kelleher’s rise within the ranks and the Southampton goalkeeper hasn’t enjoyed the most ideal of seasons so far.
Bazunu started the season as Southampton’s first choice but following a poor showing in a 3-1 loss to Hull City on September 20, he was dropped going forward.
Bazunu was left on the bench for both of Ireland’s October qualifiers. He did start in Southampton U21’s 1-1 draw with Real Madrid on October 29 and nearly scored from a corner in the last minute with his bullet header setting up the equaliser.
That earned him a place in the starting line-up against QPR on November 5, where Southampton ran away 2-1 winners in the first game since Will Still’s dismissal.
Bazunu played his first minutes of senior football since that Hull loss, making three saves but it was his error that gifted QPR a goal.
Bazunu started in Southampton’s 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday before the international break and made one save in the 5-1 win over Charlton at the weekend.
He kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Leicester City last Tuesday and played 90 minutes in the 3-2 defeat to Millwall on Saturday.
Dara O’Shea – Ipswich Town (CB)
Ipswich Town captain Dara O’Shea is a fan favourite at Portman Road and he played 90 minutes in his side’s 2-1 away defeat at Oxford United on Friday night.
O’Shea has consistently been one of the best Championship performers of the season, ranking second in accurate long balls per game (5.2).
Town are next up away at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night. O’Shea played both games for Ireland against Portugal and Hungary, getting the assist for Troy Parrott’s second goal in the first game.
John Egan – Hull City (CB)
John Egan has started 15 of Hull City’s 18 Championship games this season and recently made it back to Ireland squad after a long layoff that saw his last cap come against the Netherlands in September 2023.
Egan continues to improve after suffering a ruptured achilles and played 90 minutes in the 2-1 away win at Stoke City at the weekend.
Egan’s Hull are next up away at home to Middlesbrough on Friday night.
Ryan Manning – Southampton (LB)
Ryan Manning has impressed Ireland fans in recent international breaks and put in an excellent shift off the bench against Hungary, being suspended for the Portugal game.
Last weekend Manning played 90 minutes in the 3-2 defeat to Millwall. Last Tuesday, he got two assists in the 3-0 win over Leicester.
His Southampton will look to bounce back at home to Birmingham City on Saturday.
Will Smallbone – Milwall (CM)
After joining Milwall on loan from Southampton, Will Smallbone made six straight appearances for his new club – two off the the bench.
Milwall won four, drew one and lost one of those games. Smallbone started in attacking midfield, playing behind strikers Josh Coburn and Mihailo Ivanovic.
Smallbone bagged the assist for Evan Ferguson’s winner against Armenia in the recent international break but met a setback after 27 minutes in Milwall’s 2-0 win over Stoke City on October 21, being forced off with injury.
It was a hamstring issue and he hasn’t appeared since. Smallbone was not included in the Ireland squad for November.
Jayson Molumby – West Bromwich Albion (CM)
Jayson Molumby made his return to the Ireland squad in the October international break and proved his worth, posting a couple of impressive performances for his country.
Molumby has started 11 of West Bromwich Albion’s 18 Championship games this season. He scored an 85th minute winner on Saturday as the Baggies beat Swansea City 3-2 at home, coming back from two goals down.
Molumby received praise for his performances over the international fixtures and proved why Heimir Hallgrimsson was wrong to drop him for the September squad.
He started in the win over Hungary, playing an hour after missing Portugal through suspension.
Jack Taylor – Ipswich Town (CM)
Taylor started and played 90 minutes in Ipswich’s 2-1 loss at Oxford United on Friday.
He is starting to build some promising momentum under Kieran McKenna after falling out of favour earlier in the season.
Taylor started and played 68 minutes in the win over Portugal and played ten minutes off the bench in Budapest.
Finn Azaz – Southampton (AM)
Finn Azaz moved from Middlesbrough to Southampton for £12 million at the start of the season but initially he failed to hit the ground running for his new club. After bagging a goal and an assist for Middlesbrough in the first two games of 2025/26, he endured a long drought without a goal contribution.
However, Azaz turned a corner after recording the assist for Leo Szienza’s winner in the 2-1 win over QPR on November 5. That was followed up with a goal in Southampton’s 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday later that week.
Azaz had struggled for Ireland since September, putting up a string of poor performances for his country.
It’s been a disappointing spell until recently for the promising attacking midfielder and he really needed something to kickstart his campaign.
Azaz started against Portugal and got a brilliant assist for Parrott’s equaliser in Budapest. In the 5-1 win over Charlton on November 22, Azaz scored twice.
He scored another goal in the 3-0 win over Leicester last week and found the back of the net yet again in the 3-2 defeat to Millwall at the weekend.
Azaz is one of the most in-form players in the Championship.
Mikey Johnston – West Bromwich Albion (LW)
Mikey Johnston has started 14 of his 17 Championship appearances for West Bromwich Albion this season, scoring twice and recording six assists. He bagged two assists for West Brom in the 3-2 defeat to Coventry City on November 22.
Johnston was in the Ireland squad for November’s fixtures and featured off the bench against Portugal.
West Brom are next up away at QPR on Saturday.
Kasey McAteer – Ipswich Town (RW)
Kasey McAteer made the permanent switch from Leicester City to Ipswich Town for £12 million in August and he has failed to make a real impact.
McAteer is without a goal or an assist at club or country level this season and played 12 minutes in the defeat to Oxford United.
McAteer didn’t feature for Ireland over the October international break, remaining on the bench for both games.
He was not selected in the squad for November.
Chiedozie Ogbene – Sheffield United (RW)
Chiedozie Ogbene is another Ireland man alongside John Egan and Gavin Bazunu to have suffered a ruptured achilles in recent history but Ogbene hasn’t looked back since making his return.
Ogbene joined Sheffield United on loan from Ipswich and recorded an assist in his second appearance for the club. He came off the bench in United’s 0-0 draw with QPR last time out domestically.
Ogbene started against Portugal and Hungary but went off injured in the second game. He won the penalty which Parrott converted to equalise at 1-1 in Budapest.
He hobbled off with a hamstring injury against Hungary and Blades manager Chris Wilder is confident of a swift return.
Adam Idah – Swansea City (ST)
Adam Idah is finding better form at club level and earlier this month scored his second goal for new club Swansea City, netting the equaliser from long-range away at Charlton Athletic on November 1.
Idah performed well during the September international break, scoring a last minute equaliser for Ireland against Hungary and assisting Evan Ferguson against Armenia.
Idah cut a frustrated figure after the final whistle in Portugal when he wasn’t chosen to come on and he missed a few big chances when Hallgrimsson threw him on against Armenia in October.
Idah posted a disappointing performance in Swansea’s 2-1 defeat to Preston on November 5, missing a big chance and failed to fire in the 4-1 defeat to Ipswich.
He came off the bench in both wins over the international break. Idah played 25 minutes off the bench in Swansea’s loss to West Brom.
Jimmy Dunne – Queens Park Rangers (RB)
Jimmy Dunne received a late call-up to the Ireland squad in October in place of Liam Scales, who was forced to pull out of the trip to Lisbon due to a family bereavement. Dunne is in excellent form for Queens Park Rangers, where he plays at right-back.
Dunne is the reigning players’ player of the year and club player of the season. He has earned five clean sheets from 16 starts this season and scored his first goal of the season in a 3-2 win over Hull City last weekend.
Dunne didn’t feature for Ireland in either October game but came off the bench against Portugal in Dublin.
Dunne kept another clean sheet in last Wednesday’s 1-0 away win over Blackburn Rovers. He played 90 minutes in QPR’s 3-1 loss to Norwich City at the weekend.
Sammie Szmodics – Ipswich Town (LM)
Sammie Szmodics isn’t a popular figure with Ireland fans at the minute. In the September international break, he pulled out of the crucial Armenia match-up with injury only to come off the bench for Ipswich days later.
During the recent October qualifiers, Szmodics didn’t make himself available for selection but started Ipswich’s first game back in a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough. It’s fair to say Ireland fans’ patience is wearing thin with the winger.
Szmodics is yet to record a goal or an assist in nine Championship appearances for Town this season and recently underwent minor surgery on a knee injury.
Szmodics is expected back soon.
Jason Knight – Bristol City (CM)
Jason Knight was recently sidelined with a tear in his adductor, which kept him out of action since late September. Knight played in both of Ireland’s September World Cup qualifiers.
He wasn’t expected to return until the new year but came back to the fold in the 3-0 win over Swansea last weekend, playing 30 minutes off the bench.
Knight has started seven of his nine Championship appearances this season. He played 17 minutes off the bench in last Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at Wrexham.
Knight was not in the squad for Bristol’s 1-0 away win at Portsmouth on Saturday.
European Power Rankings – Best Irish Footballers of the Week
The latest updates on every Irish player across Europe:
Festy Ebosele – Istanbul Basaksehir FK (RB)
Festy Ebosele is enjoying life in Istanbul, with eight of his 11 appearances in the Super Lig being starts. He has recorded two clean sheets this season and even scored in a Europa Conference League play-off in August.
Ebosele was sent off in Basaksehir’s 4-3 away loss at Trabzonspor on Monday.
Ebosele was a used substitute in both Ireland wins.
Evan Ferguson – Roma (ST)
Evan Ferguson is struggling to adapt to life in Serie A following his loan move to Roma from Brighton. He was in his usual impressive form for his country though, scoring the winner against Armenia in the October international break.
Ferguson continues to prove himself as one of Ireland’s most consistent performers but it’s important for his confidence to get a few at club level. That got a boost on November 23 as Ferguson scored his first goal for Roma in a 3-1 away win at Cremonese.
He missed both of Ireland’s crucial games in November with an ankle injury. Ferguson was subbed off at half-time in Roma’s 1-0 defeat to Napoli on Sunday.
Troy Parrott – AZ Alkmaar (ST)
Parrott made himself an Irish hero to rescue his country from World Cup qualifying disappointment, netting five goals across the two games.
He scored an incredible double to down Portugal before going one better with a hat-trick including a dramatic winner with the last kick of the game to send Ireland to the play-offs.
Parrott will never have to buy a pint in Ireland again. He is without question the hottest name in European football at the minute.
Parrott began the season in impressive form for AZ, scoring seven in the team’s five Conference League qualifying games as well as three in three in the league before going down with injury.
In 17 club appearances this season, Parrott has 14 goals and two assists. He is without question the most in-form Irish player on the block.
Parrott scored again in Alkmaar’s 3-1 defeat away to Heerenveen on November 23. He went from hero to zero on Sunday away at FC Twente though, missing a 99th minute penalty with his side 1-0 down after trying an audacious panenka that sailed over the bar.
Callum O’Dowda – Ferencvaros TC (LB)
Callum O’Dowda played for Ferencvaros in the recent 2-1 away win at Puskas Akademia.
O’Dowda didn’t play for Ireland in either October fixture and was not included in the squad for November.
Andrew Omobamidele – Strasbourg (CB)
Former Norwich City and Nottingham Forest defender Andrew Omobamidele is currently enjoying life in France with Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg.
He hasn’t played for Ireland since last September’s Nations League campaign and continues to work on breaking back into the fold.
Omobamidele has made ten league appearances for Strasbourg this season, starting three times. He started in the 2-1 defeat to Brest on Sunday.
He was not chosen for the November qualifiers by Hallgrimsson.
Scottish Premiership Power Rankings – Best Irish Footballers of the Week
The latest updates on every Irish player in the Scottish Premiership:
Liam Scales – Celtic (CB)
Liam Scales wasn’t a part of either Ireland squad over the international break due to a family bereavement. Scales has started 13 times in the Scottish Premiership for Celtic and played in the 3-1 win over Rangers in the League Cup semi-final.
Scales played 90 minutes in Celtic’s 2-1 away win over Hibernian at the weekend and he was back in the Ireland squad for November.
Scales got two assists for Parrott’s goals and displayed his excellent versatility, slotted in at left-wing back.
Will Ferry – Dundee United (LM)
Will Ferry was handed a first ever Ireland call-up last month after impressing with Dundee United this season. He played 90 minutes in Dundee’s 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock at the weekend.
In ten Scottish Premiership starts, Ferry has two assists and he’s an interesting option for Hallgrimsson going forward.
Ferry was left on the bench for both Ireland games in October. He was not selected in the November squad due to a calf strain sustained in a 2-0 defeat to Motherwell on October 29.