Captain Seamus Coleman has returned to the Republic of Ireland squad, 12 months after breaking a leg while on international duty.
The Killybegs man has been named in a 30-man squad fr the friendly againstTurkey on Friday, March 23 in Antalya.
Coleman suffered a horror injury last March in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Wales.
Coleman has recently returned to the Everton squad and last weekend made his 250th appearance for the Toffees.
Ireland’s first game of 2018 will come at the end of a three-day training camp in Antalya and kicks off what will be a busy year with friendly games against United States, France, Poland and Northern Ireland, as well as UEFA Nations League games with Denmark and Wales.
There are first senior call-ups for goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara, defenders Declan Rice, Darragh Lenihan, Derrick Williams and Enda Stevens. Both O’Hara and Rice had previously trained with the squad but were never included for a match-day squad.
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Colin Doyle (Bradford City), Kieran O’Hara (Manchester United), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday)
Defenders:Â Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Declan Rice (West Ham United), John Egan (Brentford), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Kevin Long (Burnley), Alex Pearce (Derby County), Darragh Lenihan, Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers), Greg Cunningham (Preston North End), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United)
Midfielders:Â Alan Judge (Brentford), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), David Meyler (Hull City), Eunan O’Kane (Leeds United), Liam Kelly (Reading), Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan (Preston North End), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)
Forwards:Â Shane Long (Southampton), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Sean Maguire (Preston North End)
