Blackburn Rovers player is the leading scorer in the Championship this season with 21
Blackburn Rovers' Sammie Szmodics has been called up by Republic of Ireland manager for the friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA WireSzmodics is the leading scorer in the EFL Championship with 21 goals for Blackburn Rovers this season, and 27 across all competitions, so the 28-year-old is expected to win his first cap against Belgium on March 23rd.
Irish captain Séamus Coleman and veteran winger Robbie Brady make welcome returns while Troy Parrott has shaken off an injury to be chosen as one of six forwards.Evan Ferguson will lead the line but O’Shea will be tasked with finding a role for Szmodics alongside Chiedozie Ogbene and Michael Obafemi.
“Kevin’s been playing with a minor groin issue during the last games,” said Domenico Tedesco, the Belgium manager. “Yesterday I spoke to the doctor and Kevin and we decided that the risk is too big. It’s better to give him time to recover well at City and then have him ready for the Euros.”
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