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Clifford drafted in by Ireland

Image: Clifford: Added to Ireland's squad for Wednesday's friendly against Croatia in Dublin

The Republic of Ireland have added Chelsea youngster Conor Clifford to the squad for the friendly against Croatia.

Youngster to play for Under 21s before joining senior squad

The Republic of Ireland have added Chelsea youngster Conor Clifford to the squad for Wednesday's friendly against Croatia. The teenager will join up with the seniors after playing for the Under 21s against Austria in Sligo on Tuesday evening. Clifford has yet to feature for Chelsea's first team, but undertook loan spells at Plymouth Argyle and Notts County last season. Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni needs the 19-year-old to provide cover in midfield having seen a string of players pull out of his squad due to injury. Stoke pair Jon Walters and Marc Wilson are the latest, with James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman, Keith Fahey and Damien Delaney - who has been replaced by Ciaran Clark - some of the other most recent withdrawals. Wolves striker Kevin Doyle is set to feature against the Croats having received his first call-up since sustaining knee ligament damage in March, while fellow forward Shane Long also trained with the group at Malahide on Tuesday morning.

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