Tom Mohan: 'It's a great opportunity for players to test themselves against top-class opposition.'Republic of Ireland U18 boss Tom Mohan has urged his charges to show they can compete with the cream of the crop after naming his squad for next week's friendly against Germany.
The Irish travel to Rüsselsheim am Main for Mohan's first game since being appointed as U19 head coach and although he is working with a younger age group, these players will all be eligible for next season's UEFA U19 Championships qualifiers, which saw Ireland drawn in Group 4 with Germany, group hosts Albania and Gibraltar.
With those key fixtures kicking off next October, Mohan is keen to seize an opportunity to size up their illustrious opponents.
"It's a great opportunity for players to test themselves against top-class opposition," said Mohan.
"The Germans proved their quality last year by reaching the UEFA Championship final and they also beat France in a friendly last month, winning 4-1.
"I've a good understanding of this group of players but others will come onto the radar as well.
"We play them in the UEFA qualifiers next year so perhaps it's not ideal but you take it for what it is. That's five months away and a lot can happen in football in that time.
"It's testament to this group of players that teams like England and Germany wanted to play them. A lot of our underage sides are being invited to play big nations, which is what we want."
Mohan led this age group to the UEFA U17 Championships final tournament in Bulgaria last year so he is well aware of the talent they possess.
"I've a good understanding of this group of players but others will come onto the radar as well. This fixture is an added bonus with five months to prepare for the UEFA qualifiers," he said.
"We'll try see as many games as we can over the coming months - whether its U19 and first-team games here in Ireland or going to the UK to watch players at various levels.
"A lot of them are progressing well at their clubs, playing U21 level in UK or first-team level here in Ireland.
It is good to see U18 players like Trevor Clarke at Shamrock Rovers doing well at first team level in our league in recent weeks."
Republic of Ireland U18 squad
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Unattached)
Defenders: Corey O'Keefe (Birmingham City), Jonathan Lunney (Preston North End), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Robert McCourt (West Bromwich Albion), Canice Carroll (Oxford United), Luke Wade-Slater (Stevenage)
Midfielders: Conor Levingston (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Liam Brady (Stevenage), Connor Ronan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Conor Masterson (Liverpool), Daniel Mandriou (Brighton & Hove Albion), Zachary Elbouzedi (West Bromwich Albion)
Forwards: Josh Barrett (Reading), Trevor Clarke (Shamrock Rovers), Ronan Hale (Birmingham City)
CREDIT TO:http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0505/786312-mohan-urges-u18s-to-strut-stuff-against-germans/
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