Didi Hamann has blasted Stephen Kenny over his "inexcusable" decision to call Andrew Moran up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad for Saturday's Euro 2024 qualifier with the Netherlands in Amsterdam.

The midfielder, who is on loan at Blackburn Rovers from Brighton & Hove Albion, has been a key player for Ireland's U21s in their Euro qualifying campaign, but was not part of their squad for Friday's key clash away to Norway, which Jim Crawford's side lost 3-2.

That was because the 20-year-old was promoted to Kenny's senior squad earlier in the week due to injury problems, having been initially called up to the 21s.

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Hamann believes Kenny should have been told by someone within the FAI that he was not allowed to call up Moran for the Dutch game as it essentially means very little due to Ireland's chances of qualifying for Euro 2024 being long dead in comparison to the 21s who have a chance of qualifying for the 2025 Euro tournament.

Speaking on RTE, Hamann said: "The U21s had a very important game against Norway last night. They beat Turkey last month and Moran was outstanding in that game. If you win yesterday, you win four out of four, and you're in a very strong position and talking about winning the group.

"Now, you lose to Norway, Italy on the way, you also have to go to Turkey. I feel that Stephen Kenny with his addition of Andrew Moran took away the chance for Jim Crawford and his squad and the coaching staff... he took away the chance to play in the EUROs.

"Stephen Kenny is employed by the FAI, he has to do what's best for the FAI, every decision he's got to make in the best interests of the FAI and for Irish football - not for his personal interests.

Stephen Kenny

"This is why it's inexcusable to call up the vice-captain of the team, who's a main player, the heart of the team...to call him up for a dead rubber against Holland, where he's on the bench! He might get 10-15 minutes."

Shay Given agreed that Moran should have been playing for the 21s rather than being in the senior squad.

He added: "I think last night was more important. It's a dead rubber tonight. Yes, he might play five or ten minutes as a substitute and then after the game Stephen Kenny will go 'ah that's another player (that has been capped)'.

"Is he (Kenny) looking at himself rather than the bigger picture because we all believe that this maybe is his last competitive game as manager."

Given continued: "It's just a strange decision because he is the star player in the 21s team and he took that away."

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