Bazunu receives first call-up to Ireland senior squad
By Daire Walsh
There was good news for Gavin Bazunu earlier today after the Firhouse teenager was called up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the first time ahead of their forthcoming series of World Cup qualifiers.
Currently on loan at League One Rochdale from his parent club Manchester City, Bazunu has been named by Tallaght native Stephen Kenny in a 29-man selection for the Group A encounters with Serbia and Luxembourg – on March 24 and March 27 respectively.
An international friendly will also follow against Qatar in Hungary on March 30, the 2022 World Cup hosts having been partnered with the five teams in Group A to aid their own preparations for the finals tournament.
A product of the Shamrock Rovers Academy, Bazunu made headlines in June 2018 when he made his first-team debut for the Hoops at the tender age of 16.
He went on to make six senior appearances in total for Rovers, before being snapped up by Manchester City a matter of months later.
Bazunu’s loan move to Rochdale has been productive thus far. Managed by Irish man Brian Barry-Murphy (son of Cork GAA legend Jimmy Barry-Murphy), the Greater Manchester outfit currently occupy 14th spot in the English third-tier with Bazunu mustering 27 league appearances and 30 in all competitions.
Also included in the squad is Drimnagh’s Enda Stevens, who will be hoping to pick up his 20th senior international cap in the Serbia game. Joining Bazunu as one of four goalkeepers in the extended Irish selection is Bournemouth’s Mark Travers.
Although he hails from Maynooth in Co. Kildare, Travers lined out for Lucan United, Cherry Orchard and Shamrock Rovers as an underage footballer.