SINCLAIR ARMSTRONG has earned a recall to the Ireland squad 18 months after his one and only cap.
It emerged at the weekend that Johnny Kenny had been named in Heimir Hallgrímsson’s provisional squad for the Nations League play-off against Bulgaria.
Kenny – who returned to Celtic in January – was, along with Josh Honohan, one of the two players ‘who played for Shamrock Rovers’ referred to Hallgrímsson as having made the long list during his appearance on The Late Late Show.
But it is another former Rovers striker, Armstrong, who will be the surprise inclusion when the squad is announced at lunchtime on Thursday.
The Bristol City forward was promoted from the under-21 squad by Stephen Kenny for a Euro 2024 qualifier against Holland in September 2023 when he had been hit by a spate of injuries.
And the player – then with QPR – made a three-minute cameo appearance at the end of the 2-2 draw as Ireland chased the game.
With Ireland better served upfront than in most other departments, he was not subsequently called upon by Kenny, interim boss John O’Shea or, until now, Hallgrímsson.
But the Icelander has decided his physical attributes will be of use when Ireland take on Bulgaria in the two-legged promotion/relegation decider, with the first leg in Plovdiv next Thursday and the return game in Dublin 72 hours later.
Armstrong’s sole appearance for the Hoops was in an FAI Cup defeat to Drogheda United in October 2018 when he was aged just 15.
But he also lined out six times for Rovers II in the First Division before joining QPR in October 2020.
Following loan spells in the National League with Torquay United and Aldershot, he made his QPR debut on the opening day of the 2022-23 season.
After 64 games, featuring four goals and three assists, he joined Bristol City last summer in a deal worth almost €3million.
He has started 16 league matches and come on in a further 12 Championship fixtures, scoring three times – the most recent of them in November – for the Robins who are just one place off the play-off spots.
