Friendly
25.03.2011 at 15:00 - Estádio Municipal de Águeda
Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Noel King is glad his side will get a stern test from Portugal in Friday's friendly match in Águeda (5.15pm).
The game at the Estádio Municipal de Águeda will serve to continue preparations for King in his bid to assemble the strongest available squad for the upcoming 2013 European Championship qualifying campaign that begins on September 1 against Hungary at the Showgrounds in Sligo.
Last month's warm-up match in Larnaca against Cyprus was the first time King had worked with a squad fully drawn from the age-group eligible for the competitive schedule ahead.
A gritty display yielded a scoreless draw that day but eight chances were made for this game by the boss in order to broaden his available personnel options.
"There is just one more friendly match arranged after Portugal, away to Austria in August, so the plan is to evaluate the players and
settle on a squad of 20-odd players to start off the UEFA qualifiers," said King.
"Portugal traditionally produces some of the finest technically skillful players in Europe and their record at underage level in terms of results and developing players is first-class.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how our lads perform against what should be a quality side. I've watched all my players individually
with their clubs but it's how they perform on the international stage that I'll be most interested in."
Amongst the newcomers on show in Portugal will be Arsenal midfielder Conor Henderson.
The 19-year-old graduated into the Gunners' first-team squad towards the end of last season, making the substitutes' bench for two Premier League games, and overcame a broken toe injury this term to earn his debut.
The playmaker gave an assured 90-minute performance for the Gunners in their FA Cup fifth round replay victory over Leyton Orient at the Emirates Stadium, drawing praise from Arsene Wenger and King.
"We know that Conor has bundles of skill and technique," said King.
"It's evident that he's been developed through the Arsenal system because of his range of abilities.
"He was unavailable for the Cyprus game last month due to the broken toe but I'm glad he's fit and ready for involvement against Portugal."
The Ireland boss was forced into five changes to his original squad in the build-up to today's fixture.
Scunthorpe defender Niall Canavan earns his first call-up along with Ipswich Town pair Ronan Murray and Conor Hourihane, Johnny Dunleavy (Wolves), Lanre Oyebanjo (Histon) and Aaron Doran (Inverness).
They were drafted in following the withdrawals through injury of Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace), Jamie Devitt (Hull City), Damien McCrory (Dagenham), Joe Mason (Plymouth) and James Collins (Shrewsbury).
Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad: Ian McLoughlin (Stockport), Michael Quirke (Coventry), Richie Towell (Hibernian), Lanre Oyebanjo (Histon), Shane Duffy (Everton), Johnny Dunleavy (Wolves), Gavin Gunning (Motherwell), Shane O'Connor (Ipswich), Rob Kiernan (Wycombe), Niall Canavan (Scunthorpe United), Adam Barton (Preston), Mark Connolly (Bolton), Conor Henderson (Arsenal), Conor Hourihane (Ipswich Town), Ronan Murray (Ipswich Town),Conor Clifford (Notts County), Aaron Doran (Inverness), Paddy Madden (Carlisle).
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