A TRAINING-GROUND injury has put paid to Luca Connell’s chances of making his international debut for Ireland.

Wanderers’ hottest young property was drafted into Mick McCarthy’s squad and had been training at their camp in Quinta do Lago, Portugal when he suffered a thigh strain.

That means 18-year-old Connell will be unable to play a part in the country’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Denmark on Friday, June 7 and Gibraltar the following Monday.

While the in-demand midfielder was not thought to have been in McCarthy’s reckoning for a starting spot the Liverpool-born youngster is reported to have left a positive first impression on coaches and players.

“He was excellent. He has a lovely personality about him,” McCarthy told RTÉ Sport. “He stood up in training and stood out. I think everybody was impressed with him.

“He’s just left after saying goodbye to all the lads and each and every one have given him a hug. Everybody took to him as a person and as a player.

“It’s sad for him to be going as it was a good opportunity for him.”