Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has handed a first senior call-up to Portsmouth winger Millenic Alli ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against North Macedonia in Dublin.
The 26-year-old joined the squad for training at Abbotstown on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in his career after rising through the ranks from non-league football in England.
Alli’s journey has been impressive.
After catching attention at Exeter City, he earned a move to Luton Town in 2024 for £1.5 million.
He finished last season strongly with four goals in six games, though Luton were ultimately relegated to League One.
Since then, Alli has revived his form on loan at Portsmouth, starting all 14 matches since arriving at Fratton Park and playing a key role in their fight for survival.
Hallgrimsson’s squad has seen a few changes ahead of the international fixture.
Jack Taylor has withdrawn for family reasons, while Sammie Szmodics has returned to Derby County to continue recovering from a concussion suffered in the World Cup play-off defeat to the Czech Republic.
That loss ended Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for this summer’s World Cup, with both Ireland and North Macedonia now turning their focus to this friendly encounter after falling short in their respective play-offs.
With several players unavailable, Alli now has a chance to impress on the international stage for the first time.
His recent consistency and work rate at club level have not gone unnoticed, and this call-up offers him the opportunity to stake a claim for a more permanent place in the national setup.
