Rising Hammers star and Under 23s skipper Conor Coventry is set for international duty with the Republic of Ireland U21 in the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 1 matches against Italy and Iceland.
Conor has been an integral part of the Hammers development squad which has reeled off 16 unbeaten games since pre season.
He has been freely tipped to soon gain a place in the Hammers match day squad this season but with so many options available Manuel Pellegrini has still only used him just once.
Unfortunately that was in the Oxford debacle although that has not deterred coach Stephen Kenny from calling him into the squad.
The Ireland under 21s top of their group after kicking off their campaign with three straight wins over Luxembourg, Armenia and Sweden.
Now, Stephen Kenny’s side will seek to strengthen their position by taking maximum points from the two games to be played in October.
Coventry and his compatriots will host Italy at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin on Thursday 10 October, before travelling to Reykjavik to take on Iceland on Tuesday 15 October.
Elsewhere, midfielder Josh Cullen has been included by Mick McCarthy in the senior Republic of Ireland squad for Group D fixtures in Georgia and Switzerland.
Josh has been in brilliant form all season and was named as man of the match on his last appearance for the team and moved his international boss to describe him in terms which will have been music to his ears.
He spoke of him being a “tough little sod” who reminded him in attitude of Leeds United’s former hard man Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter.
And the big issue now, with his running down in the summer, is whether the manager will be moved to offer him a new deal which could easily see him replace Carlos Sanchez as a second defensive midfielder.
