Scunthorpe United have extended the loan stay of Ireland U21 international Shane Duffy.
The Derry born centre-half has impressed during his month at Glanford Park and the Iron were keen to extend the deal.
Saturday's 2-1 victory over Yeovil Town was the 19-year-old's fourth appearance for United and Scunthorpe boss alan Knill has persuaded Premier League side Everton to allow him to remain on a month by month basis.
"I've spoken to Shane and he is benefiting from playing in someone's first team," said the Iron boss.
"It's better he plays in a competitive team that is playing quite well rather than the reserves.
"That's what they sent him to us for, to learn, and that's what he's doing. And I have to say, I think he's getting better.
"The thing I like most about him is when the ball comes into the box, he really wants to head it – before anybody else. He's a proper centre-half."
Both Duffy and fellow Iron Irish international Niall Canavan have been called up into the latest Ireland U21 squad.
The pair have been selected for the forthcoming UEFA 2013 European Championship Qualifier versus Liechtenstein which will take place on Tuesday, October 11.
Canavan is currently out of action with an ankle injury but, should he be fit, he will join up with the squad alongside Duffy the day after Scunthorpe's home clash with Leyton Orient.
The pair would then return to training ready for the away game at Brentford on Saturday, October 15.
Dundalk today today agreed the transfer of Ireland U21 international Daniel Kearns to English Championship club Peterborough United, subject to final details being completed in the coming days.
Belfast born Kearns, who was set for his 50th appearance for the club on Tuesday night, is expected to travel to England on Monday for a medical, with a deal set to go through once that and the other relevant paperwork is completed.
Championship outfit Peterborough have held a long-term interest in Kearns and they have now firmed up their interest with a six-figure offer for the exciting attacking midfielder.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson is a big fan of the former West Ham youngster and has won the race for the 19-year-old's services, despite strong interest from Celtic and a number of other clubs.
Noel King has named his Ireland squad for the forthcoming UEFA Under-21 Championships qualifiers against Hungary and Turkey.
Ireland will host Hungary at the Showgrounds, Sligo, on Thursday, September 1st and then travel to Manisa on Tuesday, September 6
King has included 15 of the players who featured in a 2-1 friendly victory over Austria at the Showgrounds earlier this month.
Senior international James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic) has been added to the squad with Adam Barton (Preston North End) and Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace) returning from injuries which ruled them out of the game against Austria.
King said: “James will be a good addition to our squad. We are building a competitive squad now and if everybody that is eligible for this age group was fit it would be one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had just to name the squad.
“James played in the last competitive game for the under-21s against Estonia so he knows most of the players. He has a great pedigree and everybody knows the talent he possesses.
“We’ve named James in the squad and he is fit to play. Hopefully all of the players will come through their club fixtures this weekend and steer clear of injuries.”
IRELAND UNDER-21 SQUAD
Ian McLoughlin MK Dons FC
Aaron McCarey Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Lanre Oyebanjo York City FC
Shane Duffy Everton FC
Gavin Gunning Dundee United FC
Rob Kiernan Wigan Athletic FC
Niall Canavan Scunthorpe United FC
Aidan White Leeds United FC
Richie Towell Celtic FC
Mark Connolly Bolton Wanderers FC
Adam Barton Preston North End FC
Conor Clifford Chelsea FC
James McCarthy Wigan Athletic FC
Jeff Hendrick Derby County FC
Aaron Doran Inverness CT FC
Robbie Brady Hull City FC (on loan from Manchester United FC)
Sean Scannell Crystal Palace FC
Joe Mason Cardiff City FC
Rhys Murphy Arsenal
Ireland U21 manager Noel King has confirmed his Ireland Under 21 squad for the friendly international with Austria in the Showgrounds, Sligo on Tuesday the 9th August. Leeds United full back Aiden White is a new addition to the squad, while goalkeeper Aaron McCarey links up at this level for the first time, following his performances at the UEFA Under 19 Finals in Romania last week.
The Austria friendly is a warm up for the upcoming 2013 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers against Hungary (home) and Turkey (away) on 1 and 6 September.
Also included in the squad is Derry born Everton central defender Shane Duffy who is tipped to go out on loan from the Toffees before the start of the season to gain valuable game time in the Championship.
Belfast born Dundalk midfielder Daniel Kearns is also included in the sixteen man squad after an eye-catching performance against Celtic in the Dublin Super Cup at the Aviva Stadium last Sunday. Dundalk manager Ian Foster was full of praise for the 19 year old former West Ham trainee after the Aviva Stadium performance:
"He was the best League of Ireland player against Celtic by a million miles, for me. It was a strange decision at the weekend to take him off after 74 minutes when, like I say, I thought he was the best player on the pitch in League of Ireland colours. But that game will have done him the world of good and it will have done his confidence the world of good.”
Kearns has been linked with a number of clubs in the UK in recent months, and just nearly a year after signing on at Oriel Park, the young winger could be about to make an exit, with his contract set to expire at the end of the current season. “We’re not going to stand in anybody’s way,” Foster said when asked if he felt the Belfast boy’s performance against Celtic had perhaps sealed a move back across the water. “If offers do come in for Daniel now, which wouldn’t surprise me, we’ll listen to them and we’ll do what’s best for Dundalk Football Club and for Daniel Kearns’ career. I’ve said this umpteen times to Daniel, that we’ll look after him, I wouldn’t be surprised if during the week one or two enquiries do come in.”
Ireland U21 squad
Goalkeepers
Aaron McCarey Wolverhampton Wnds
Ian McLoughlin MK Dons
Defenders
Niall Canavan Scunthorpe United
Mark Connolly Bolton Wanderers
Shane Duffy Everton
Gavin Gunning Scunthorpe United
Robert Kiernan Wigan Athletic
Enda Stevens Shamrock Rovers
Aiden White Leeds United
Midfielders
Adam Barton Preston North End
Conor Clifford Chelsea
Daniel Kearns Dundalk
Richie Towell Glasgow Celtic
Jeff Hendrick Derby County FC
Forwards
Aaron Doran Inverness Caledonian T
Joe Mason Cardiff City
Sean Scannell Crystal Palace
Robert Brady Manchester United FC (On-loan to Hull City FC)
