Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Finneran has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-17 and under-19 levels.
Newcastle United midfielder Rory Finneran has received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the friendly against Grenada. The 18-year-old has joined Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad in Murcia, Spain, for their training camp ahead of Saturday’s match at the Estadio Nueva Condomina (17:00 BST).
Finneran, who moved to Newcastle from Blackburn Rovers in 2024, has previously played for the Republic of Ireland at under-17 and under-19 levels. He steps in after Cardiff City defender Joel Bagan and Ipswich Town winger Kasey McAteer were both ruled out through injury.
Benfica attacker Jaden Umeh, who had received his first senior call-up, has been withdrawn from the squad by his club. Since this friendly falls outside FIFA’s international window, clubs are not obliged to release their players. Benfica’s under-19 team has a crucial match against Famalicao on Saturday, and they want Umeh—who scored twice in a 6-2 win over UD Leiria on Sunday—available as they push for UEFA Youth League qualification.
“Benfica are still fighting in their U19s to be in the UEFA Youth League,” Hallgrimsson explained. “The plan was for them to have secured that by now, but unfortunately results this weekend didn’t go their way, so Jaden still has one more game to play. We knew beforehand that this was a possibility, even if it was unlikely. It’s unlucky for him that the results went that way, as we were looking forward to working with him, but we understand the club’s position and will have to wait for a future window to bring him into the environment.”