Maguire called up by Ireland

Preston North End striker Sean Maguire has been called up to Ireland's 39-man provisional squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Serbia.

The 23-year-old signed for Championship side Preston at the end of July after topping the League of Ireland goalscoring charts with Cork City.

Ireland boss Martin O’Neill has also named Everton's James McCarthy in his squad, even though the Glasgow-born midfielder missed out on selection for Ronald Koeman's matchday 18 against Stoke on Saturday through injury.

Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot and defender Ciaran Clark Clark return after playing in the Magpies' 2-0 Premier League home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Uncapped pair Matt Doherty of Wolves, and Reading's Liam Kelly, are included in the panel, while Maguire's Preston team-mate Greg Cunningham receives his first international call-up for four years.

Paul McShane, Ciaran Clark, Stephen Quinn, David Meyler, Shane Long and Kevin Doyle, who all missed the June games against Mexico, Uruguay and Austria, all return for the World Cup qualifiers.

Ireland face Georgia in Tbilisi on 2 September, then meet group leaders Serbia at the Aviva Stadium three days later. 

Ireland sit second behind Serbia on goal difference in World Cup qualifying Group D, with 12 points from six matches, four points ahead of Wales in third and Austria in fourth.

O'Neill has set his players the challenge of winning three of their last four Group D games to qualify automatically for next summer's World Cup finals in Russia.

After September's double header, Ireland host Moldova in Dublin on 6 October then conclude their campaign against Wales in Cardiff on 9 October.

"These two matches will make ferocious inroads into the make up of the group - goal difference is pretty important too," said O'Neill.

"We need to remain unbeaten if we can and probably need to win at least three out of the four games."

Ireland provisional squad to face Georgia and Serbia squad.

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Colin Doyle (Bradford City)

Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough), Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce (Derby County), Paul McShane (Reading), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), John O’Shea (Sunderland), John Egan (Brentford), Greg Cunningham (Preston North End), Kevin Long, Stephen Ward (Burnley), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady (Burnley), James McCarthy (Everton), Stephen Quinn, Liam Kelly (Reading), David Meyler (Hull City), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O’Kane (Leeds United), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Jonathan Hayes (Celtic), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan (Preston North End)

Forwards: Jonathan Walters (Burnley), Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids), Sean Maguire (Preston North End)

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