MARTIN O'Neill has called up SPFL top scorer Adam Rooney to the provisional squad to face Scotland in Dublin on June 13 but one man Gordon Strachan's side won't face is Aston Villa starlet Jack Grealish.
While the Aberdeen striker takes his place in the 33-man group for the friendly against England and the crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Gordon Strachan's side, the Birmingham-born 19-year-old. who is currently at the centre of a tug-of-war between Ireland and England, has rejected the chance to participate. He will delay the decision over his international future until the start of next season.
O'Neill decided to test the water with the youngster having forced his way into the first-team picture at Villa in recent weeks to rave reviews but Grealish has stuck to his guns.
"I spoke to both Jack and his father and I think Jack just didn't want to make his mind up at this stage," said O'Neill. "He wanted to complete the season at Aston Villa - there are some important games for them coming up - and he wants to make his decision at some time in the future."
O'Neill admitted his disappointment at Grealish's decision, but did not consider it a snub. "I don't take it personally," he said. "I think Jack is pretty firm in what he wants to do and that's fine.
"He has been doing very well recently and it would have been nice, but that's Jack's decision. I spoke to the father and said I would like to have brought him into it, but of course you don't want to force someone who might not want to make that decision just at this moment."
As long as Grealish remains uncapped by Ireland, there is the possibility that Hodgson could persuade him that his international future could lie with England, although O'Neill was not to be drawn on the subject.
He said: "I've no idea. I think you'll have to ask Roy. Seriously, I don't want to sound as if England are miles better than us, but I think it would be difficult to get into the England squad just at this moment."
If Grealish's absence was the main topic for discussion from the squad announcement in Dublin, there were notable first inclusions for Brentford midfielder Alan Judge and Aberdeen striker Adam Rooney in a provisional 33-man party, which will be trimmed down before the qualifier with the Scots. There were places too for veterans John O'Shea and Robbie Keane, despite both currently being on the injured list at their respective clubs, with the Sunderland defender battling to shake off a rib problem and the LA Galaxy striker nursing a groin strain.
However, O'Neill is confident both will be able to meet up on or around June 1, with his 65-goal striker having confirmed that he will be heading across the Atlantic once again.
Asked about Keane's fitness, the Derryman said: "He's okay, he's all right. He's just texted a message through to say he's okay." Celtic striker Anthony Stokes also makes the long list for the match.
Squad: David Forde (Millwall), Shay Given (Aston Villa), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Darren Randolph (Birmingham),; Richard Keogh (Derby), Marc Wilson (Stoke), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie (Derby), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Alex Pearce (Reading), Paul McShane (Hull), Stephen Ward (Burnley); James McCarthy (Everton), Jeff Hendrick (Derby), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Glenn Whelan (Stoke), Aiden McGeady (Everton), James McClean (Wigan), Alan Judge (Brentford), Robbie Brady (Hull), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff), Stephen Quinn, David Meyler (both Hull), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich); Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich), Jon Walters (Stoke), Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids), Anthony Stokes (Celtic), David McGoldrick (Ipswich), Adam Rooney (Aberdeen), Simon Cox (Reading).
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