Derrick Williams’ versatility offers Republic of Ireland plenty of options, according to boss Stephen Kenny, after the Rovers defender earned a recall to the international fold.

Williams has impressed in central defence for Rovers in the opening weeks of this season, helping them to back-to-back clean sheets as well as netting in the win over Wycombe last week.

He has earned a call-up to the Ireland squad ahead of their triple header next month, as has Darragh Lenihan, with Kenny including just seven defenders in his squad.

They include four central defensive options, with the Rovers pair joined by Shane Duffy and John Egan, while Sheffield United’s Enda Stevens is the sole left back.

 

 

That is a position Williams played much of his football for Rovers during his first two years at the club, and also featured in when making his two starts for Ireland, including in the win over New Zealand last November where he scored, but picked up an injury.

However, much of his football for Rovers since 2018 has come in central defence.

With three matches next month, there is a good chance of both the Rovers pair featuring for their country, with a possible left back role for Williams.

“Derrick is a terrific footballer. Obviously he was a left back for many years and he’s been playing regularly with Darragh Lenihan at left centre back,” Kenny said.

“His versatility is important, he’s a good defender and the fact he can play left centre back is an option and it’s good to have that versatility.

“Club form is important.

“We have increased the squad from 23 to 25 with three games. I think 25 is a good number for the three games.

“I’m much happier now. In the last window, we had a lot of players that hadn’t played much football, but a majority are now playing every week, or the majority of games.

“They’re going into this window on the back of five or six 90 minutes and I think that’s a much better situation, certainly better going into the game with Slovakia.”

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 for their Euro 2020 play-off match on Thursday, October 8.

They then host Wales on October 11 and travel to Finland three days later in a Nations League double-header, and despite Kenny having taken just one point from his first two matches in charge, he could look to utilise his squad.

Lenihan was an unused substitute in the draw with Bulgaria and defeat to Finland, with Egan and Duffy preferred, while Williams wasn’t included having made just one appearance in 2020 prior to his recent run in the side.

The pair will then return to Rovers before their home match with Nottingham Forest on Saturday, October 17, the first of seven matches in a three-week period before the November international fixtures.