PNE quartet named in the Republic of Ireland squad

Sean Maguire, Alan Browne, Greg Cunningham and Daryl Horgan are in a provisional 30-man squad for the Republic's friendly with Turkey in Antalya on March 23.

The squad was announced by Ireland boss Martin O'Neill at a press conference in Dublin on Thursday morning.

Maguire returned to the North End squad last week after a four-month absence following hamstring surgery, coming off the bench to score three goals in two games.

He has one full international cap to his name, that coming in the World Cup qualifier against Moldova last October.

Midfielder Browne has been in fine form for PNE this season and like Maguire, has played once at senior level for the Irish - that in last summer's friendly with Mexico in New Jersey.

Stand-in Preston skipper Cunningham was named in a provisional squad earlier in the season but then got an injury which kept him out to December.

The left-back has four Irish caps to his name, the last of those in 2013.

Horgan has found chances hard to come by at Deepdale this season but remains highly thought of in the Irish set-up.

The former Dundalk man made his international debut 12 months ago against Iceland.

O'Neill's squad will meet in Dublin on March 18 before flying out to Turkey the following day for a training camp and the friendly game.

PNE's first game back after the international break is the Good Friday clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.