Kildare man and Irish captain Nathan Collins back in for Nations League

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson has named a 24-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Austria and Kosovo.

Ireland captain Nathan Collins has returned following a calf strain suffered during his club Brentford's 1-1 draw with Sunderland in September.

The Irish squad travel to Linz to face Austria on Saturday, November 14 at the Raiffeisen Arena, before hosting Kosovo at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, November 17.

QPR's Harvey Vale has made the squad again after his injury in September while the in-form Owen Elding of Hibernian will link up with the U21s for their crucial European Championship play-off against Finland on Friday, November 13.

Another Kildare man is back in the Irish fold with Maynooth’s Mark Travers returning to the squad to replace the injured Gavin Bazunu. The squad will assemble in Dublin on Monday ahead of the trip to Austria for the first of the two crucial fixtures.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Max O'Leary (West Bromwich Albion), Mark Travers (Everton).

Defenders: Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), John Egan (Hull City), Liam Kitching (Sheffield United), Jimmy Dunne (QPR), Jake O'Brien (Everton), James Abankwah (Watford), Ryan Manning (Southampton), Liam Scales (Celtic).

Midfielders: Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City), Harvey Vale (QPR), Finn Azaz (Southampton).

Forwards: Troy Parrott (Real Betis), Adam Idah (Swansea City), Tom Cannon (Sheffield United), Jack Moylan (Cardiff City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Lincoln City), Rocco Vata (Watford).

Fixtures

Saturday, November 14: Austria v Republic of Ireland, Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, 7.45pm (8.45pm local)

Tuesday, November 17: Republic of Ireland v Kosovo, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm