The Leicester forward has been added to Ireland’s senior squad after taking time to consider England’s approach

Leicester City striker Tom Cannon has been included in John O’Shea’s squad for June’s friendlies against Hungary and Portugal.

The former Everton prospect had been capped at Under-21 level but was approached by England last year.

Born in Aintree, he made 13 Championship appearances this season as the Foxes won promotion to the Premier League.

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He was selected by Ireland Under-21 boss Jim Crawford in March last year. He was called up by Stephen Kenny for the senior camp in Bristol last summer but withdrew, citing tonsillitis.

Kenny said at the time: “His agent is Kenny Moyes and he just said, ‘Let’s get the camp out of the way and we’ll meet you and talk.’

“He said, ‘Obviously England U-21s have made an approach’, and he just needed a bit of time to reflect and see what the situation was and he wanted to talk to me after the training camp, sit down and have a conversation.”

O’Shea named a 26-man squad on Tuesday for friendlies against Hungary at the Aviva Stadium on June 4 and Portugal in Aveiro on June 11.

Troy Parrott, Liam Scales and Enda Stevens are back in the squad, while goalkeeping duo Max O’Leary and David Harrington are included.

Goalkeeper Josh Keeley and midfielders Bosun Lawal and Andy Moran will also report to the senior men’s camp to train with the squad before linking up with Jim Crawford’s Under-21s for the upcoming matches against Croatia and England.

TEAM:

Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher, Mark Travers, Max O’Leary, David Harrington.

Defenders: Seamus Coleman, Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy, Dara O’Shea, Jake O’Brien, Andrew Omobamidele, Liam Scales, Robbie Brady, Enda Stevens.

Middlemen: Josh Cullen, Finn Azaz, Jason Knight, Jamie McGrath, Callum O’Dowda, Will Smallbone, Mark Sykes, Mikey Johnston.

Before: Sammie Szmodics, Adam Idah, Troy Parrott, Michael Obafemi, Tom Cannon.

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