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Stoke City duo rewarded for form in loan turnaround

Andrew Moran is mobbed by teammates after his goal for Stoke against Bristol City.
-Credit: (Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)


Andrew Moran and Tom Cannon have both been recalled to the new Republic of Ireland senior squad in recognition of their form on loan at Stoke City.

Midfielder Moran, aged 21, has emerged as a regular starter under head coach Narcis Pelach on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, either playing in a midfield two or as a number 10. He has chipped in with four assists and two goals so far in 15 appearances.

Striker Cannon, also 21, has scored seven times on loan from Leicester City, including in each of his last three - netting penalties in both of his last two to help secure wins over Derby County and Blackburn Rovers.

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They have both been called up for internationals against Finland, on November 14, and England, on November 17, alongside former Stoke players Mark Travers and Nathan Collins. Stoke youth midfielder Darius Lipsiuc, who made his first team debut in the Carabao Cup in September, has been summoned to join the Ireland under-21s party for games against Sweden.

Lewis Koumas, on loan at Stoke from Liverpool, is in the Wales squad for matches against Turkey and Iceland while Ashley Phillips, on loan at Stoke from Tottenham, is likely to be in the England elite under-20s squad for a clash with Germany in Chesterfield.

It is no mean feat if all four of Stoke's loanees are called up for international duty and all four are clearly key figures under Pelach, which Stoke had been keen to make sure was the case this season. There has been a series of loans since relegation for players who remained on the fringes or flopped, such as Sead Haksabanovic and Chiquinho last term.

Stoke have one more game before the international break and host in-form Millwall at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday (12.30pm).

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