BURNLEY defender Kevin Long has capped a dream couple of weeks with a first call-up for the Republic of Ireland.

The 26-year-old made his first Premier League start in the 2-2 draw with West Brom and impressed on what was only his second appearance of the season for the Clarets.

He followed that up with another start at Bournemouth on Saturday and Ireland boss Martin O'Neill said assistant Roy Keane had watched Long play for Burnley and had been impressed with what he had seen.

"Roy saw him play last week and said he wouldn't discount him," he said. He's a player who has had a host of injuries - I will keep an eye on that - but Roy said not to discount him.

"He didn't do too badly in the (Burnley) game and if he plays next weekend in the last game of the Premier League season, we will see.

"It's nice that he got games and with Ciaran Clark out it gives competition for places."

Long is joined in the 37-man squad for games with Mexico, Uruguay and Austria in June by Clarets teammates Stephen Ward, Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady.

A selection of players will report for a three-day training camp in Fota Island Resort on Tuesday, May 23, before the full squad links up in Dublin on Sunday, May 28.

The squad will fly to New York on Monday, May 29 ahead of the international friendly against Mexico on Thursday, June 1 in MetLife Stadium. They will then return for the friendly with Uruguay at Aviva Stadium on Sunday, June 4.

The international camp will close with the World Cup Qualifier against Austria in Aviva Stadium on Sunday, June 11.