Eighteen-year-old Benfica winger Jaden Umeh has been named in Heimir Hallgrímsson’s Republic of Ireland squad for a friendly against Grenada in Spain on Saturday, May 16th.
The Cork-born teenager was recently promoted to José Mourinho’s first team training following some outstanding performances for Benfica underage sides and the Ireland under-21s.
“Obviously Jaden is a high-potential player,” said Hallgrímsson. “We don’t know what his limit will be, but it is exciting to work with him and see.
“First and foremost, he is a natural goalscorer and he has physicality as well, even though he is young.”
In November 2023, Umeh became Cork City’s youngest ever player, at 15 years and 230 days, when coming off the bench against Bohemians at Dalymount Park. The younger brother of Portsmouth winger Franco Umeh (21), he signed for Benfica in August 2024.
“From what we’ve seen with youth teams and clips from Benfica, he is an exciting player, one for the future. If he is ready for the [Ireland senior] team, we will have to wait and see.”
Former Shelbourne attacker Jack Moylan is also among the nine uncapped players included in Hallgrímsson’s 21-man squad after he helped Lincoln City gain promotion to the EFL Championship.
Hallgrímsson described Moylan as a “really interesting player”, adding: “Individual quality, creative, goalscoring. I saw him in the last [home] game of the season [against Wycombe]. It was a frantic atmosphere in Lincoln that day, it was enjoyable to be there. A good person as well. I spoke to him.”
The 24-year-old finished his breakthrough campaign at Lincoln with 11 goals and seven assists.
“[Moylan’s] stats are incredible, one of the highest scorers in many metrics, but it’s League One. Let’s see how he does it in the Championship next season.”
The 10-day training camp at La Finca resort near Murcia was initially designed to bridge the gap for Irish players at lower league English clubs in advance of the World Cup in June as their season ended last weekend.
Hallgrímsson thanked the FAI for allowing the camp to go ahead despite the side’s failure to qualify for this summer’s tournament.
There are two more friendlies scheduled for the coming weeks as Qatar come to the Aviva Stadium on May 28th before Ireland play Canada in Montreal on June 6th.
The squad will also play a training match against third-tier Spanish side Real Murcia at the Estadio Nueva Condomina next Tuesday.
Ipswich Town captain Dara O’Shea is set to lead Ireland, with Premier League players, such as Brentford’s Caoimhín Kelleher and Nathan Collins, and AZ Alkmaar striker Troy Parrott expected to link up with the squad before the game against Qatar.
Southampton pair Finn Azaz and Ryan Manning, Millwall’s Will Smallbone and Middlesbrough wing back Alan Browne are all unavailable as their clubs are in the Championship playoffs this weekend.
Bosun Lawal, Jimmy Dunne and Gavin Bazunu are injured, while Joel Bagan is a doubt. Hallgrímsson had planned to use Lawal throughout May and June, but the Stoke City defender is recuperating from a recurring hamstring issue.
“We had already talked to Bosun before he got injured about both camps because he is the one we would like to kind of fast forward, same as [Watford’s] James Abankwah. Hopefully James can do both camps.”
At the request of their clubs, Sammie Szmodics, Harvey Vale and Jack Taylor are taking the summer off to manage injuries. Hallgrímsson also decided to leave out Robbie Brady after the 34-year-old aggravated a calf injury during two international camps over the last year.
“I didn’t want that to happen a third time,” Hallgrímsson added.
There are no League of Ireland players in the squad as the Grenada game falls outside Fifa’s international window, but Bohemians midfielder Dawson Devoy and Shamrock Rovers Matt Healy could come into consideration for the fixtures against Qatar and Canada.
However, both would struggle to dislodge the four Championship midfielders – Jayson Molumby, Jason Knight, Conor Coventry and Andrew Moran – selected for next week’s camp.
Hallgrímsson is continuing to press the FAI to arrange a camp and international fixture in January largely made up of home-based players.
“Sometimes doing something different takes time, and I accept that. The budget within the association is tight, so we need to be careful where we spend.
“Given the League of Ireland calendar, [January] makes sense to me. That’s why all the nations with the same calendar are doing it, they try to expedite players who they think have potential to become national team players. Being in a summer league isn’t all negative because it gives advantages. This is, for me, one of them.
“When I managed Iceland and Jamaica, there was always one player who would shine in those environments. I think it’s an opportunity to give these players a platform to play at a high level with the national team and prove a point to us and the nation.”
Hallgrímsson also indicated that 20-year-old Manchester United midfield Jack Moorhouse and the Arsenal-bound Victor Ozhianvuna (17) will be better served by gaining caps for the Ireland under-21s rather than being fast-tracked like Umeh.
Meanwhile, with assistant coach Paddy McCarthy committed to his role at Crystal Palace, under-21 manager Jim Crawford will join Hallgrímsson’s coaching group in Spain.
“Paddy and some of our staff members are working in clubs that are still playing, so it gives us a chance to bring in Jim. He knows most of these new faces better than we do,” said Hallgrímsson.
“It will be beneficial to the players and helps us, as a federation, to work better with the under-21s as our camps are always at the same time.”
Republic of Ireland Squad (v Grenada)
Goalkeepers: Max O’Leary (West Brom), Josh Keeley (Luton Town), Killian Cahill (Leyton Orient).
Defenders: Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Eiran Cashin (Blackburn Rovers; loan), James Abankwah (Watford), Mark McGuinness (Sheffield United), Tayo Adaramola (Sheffield Wednesday; loan), Joel Bagan (Cardiff City).
Midfielders: Jayson Molumby (West Brom), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic), Andrew Moran (Preston North End).
Forwards: Adam Idah (Swansea City), Tom Cannon (Sheffield United), Chiedozie Ogbene (Sheffield United; loan), Kasey McAteer (Ipswich Town), Millenic Alli (Portsmouth), Jack Moylan (Lincoln City), Aidomo Emakhu (Oxford United), Jaden Umeh (Benfica).
