Derrick Williams’ early season form has been rewarded with a call to the Republic of Ireland squad.

Williams has been named in the squad for the first time in 11 months having started the season impressively in the heart of the Rovers defence.

His central defensive partner, Darragh Lenihan, is also in the squad for the upcoming three matches having been part of the Nations League fixtures earlier this month.

Williams has won three caps for his country, the last of which came against New Zealand in November 2019 where he scored, but then picked up a calf injury which he struggled to overcome.

Indeed, the 27-year-old made just three more appearances after that last season, but has started this season in fine form for Rovers, helping them to back-to-back clean sheets, and scoring in the win over Wycombe.

His future at the club had looked uncertain, with DC United and LA Galaxy in the MLS, as well as Swansea City in the Championship, keen to sign him, but he now looks set to stay at Rovers.

He and Lenihan, who was an unused substitute for Nations League matches with Bulgaria and Finland, will hope to feature for Stephen Kenny’s side after being named in the provisional squad.

Both will feature for Rovers against Cardiff City this weekend before heading off on international duty where Ireland face a triple-header.

The biggest clash of the three comes first, travelling to Slovakia for a Euro 2020 play-off semi-final match as they bid to make next summer’s finals.

After that comes a Nations League qualifier with Wales on October 11 and then a trip to Finland three days later (October 14) before returning to Rovers ahead of their game with Nottingham Forest on October 17.

New boss Kenny will hope for a better time of things in the October break having needed a last minute Shane Duffy goal to rescue a point against Bulgaria, before losing 1-0 to Finland.

Duffy and Sheffield United’s John Egan were the preferred pairing for the last round of matches, with the Rovers pair the other two central defensive options in Kenny's squad.

The squad will assemble in Dublin on Sunday and train at the FAI’s National Training Centre in Abbotstown before flying to Slovakia on Tuesday.

Corry Evans, currently out injured, will find out on Thursday whether he’s made the Northern Ireland squad for their three October games which include a Euro 2020 play-off match against Bosnia & Herzegovina, with the winner facing Republic of Ireland or Slovakia in the final knockout match.