Amond and Collins, who have impressed in England's lower divisions, are joined by fellow goalscorer David McGoldrick, of Sheffield United, who fell out of favour in the final year of Martin O'Neill's tenure.

Amond has scored 21 goals this season for League Two Newport, including five on their giant-killing FA Cup run to the fifth round. Collins is the League One top scorer, with 20 goals for leaders Luton, while McGoldrick has 11 goals for the promotion-chasing Blades in the Championship.

Also included in the 38-man provisional squad is Aston Villa's Glenn Whelan, who was expected to have played his last game for Ireland after captaining the side in a 36-minute ceremonial cameo against Northern Ireland in November.

James McCarthy returns to the squad having rehabilitated a broken leg, while Keiren Westwood, Stephen Ward, and Aiden McGeady also earn recalls.

Shane Long, Sean Maguire, Ronan Curtis, Scott Hogan, and Aiden O'Brien are Mick McCarthy's other options in attack as Ireland bid to end a four-game goalless streak. Nottingham Forest's Daryl Murphy remains in international retirement despite an approach from McCarthy.

Injury has ruled out Newcastle United's Ciaran Clark, Preston North End's Callum Robinson, Burnley's Jonathan Walters, and Southampton's Michael Obafemi, while West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, who played three times for Ireland, has now switched allegiance to England.

Travers and Liverpool 'keeper Caoimhin Kelleher will be part of Stephen Kenny's Under-21 squad for their qualifier against Luxembourg on March 24, with McCarthy having the option to draft them into his senior squad after that. Darren Randolph, Westwood, and the uncapped Kieran O'Hara are the other goalies called-up.

Another player who could make his Ireland debut is on-loan Sunderland defender Jimmy Dunne.

McCarthy's first game back in charge will be a Euro 2020 qualifier versus Gibraltar at the Victoria Stadium on Saturday, March 23, before hosting Georgia at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, March 26.

Republic of Ireland Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Kieran O'Hara (Macclesfield Town*), Mark Travers (Bournemouth).

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Richard Keogh (Derby County), John Egan (Sheffield United), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Kevin Long (Burnley), Jimmy Dunne (Sunderland*), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen Ward (Burnley).

Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), Alan Judge (Ipswich Town), James McCarthy (Everton), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Harry Arter (Cardiff City*), Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa), David Meyler (Coventry City*), Shaun Williams (Millwall), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Daryl Horgan (Hibernian).

Forwards: Shane Long (Southampton), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Scott Hogan (Sheffield United*), Aiden O'Brien (Millwall), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United), James Collins (Luton Town), Padraig Amond (Newport County).

*Indicates player is on loan