Chiedozie Ogbene, Festy Ebosele, Ryan Manning, Enda Stevens and Will Keane also return.

Stephen Kenny's side take on France in Paris on 7 September.

They will then welcome the Netherlands to Dublin's Aviva Stadium for the second match of the double-header three days later.

The Republic are third in Group B with three points from as many games, having followed up defeats by France and Greece with a 3-0 win over Gibraltar. The Netherlands are fourth with three points but have played one game fewer.

Luton forward Ogbene, 26, is recalled having missed the Greece and Gibraltar games in June with injury, while uncapped 21-year-old Ebosele earns his first call-up since June 2022 after impressing for Udinese in Serie A.

While seven players have returned, Tottenham striker Troy Parrott, currently on loan at Eredivisie side Excelsior, and Cardiff winger Callum O'Dowda have been left out.

Mark Sykes (Bristol City), Liam Scales (Celtic) and Jack Taylor (Peterborough) also miss out having been included in Kenny's previous squad.

Kenny is without Everton defender Seamus Coleman (knee), Celtic's Mikey Johnston (back) and Burnley's Michael Obafemi (hamstring) because of injury.

Wolves defender Matt Doherty is suspended for the France game after being sent off against Greece, but will be available to face the Dutch.

McClean in League Two 'not ideal in long term'

McClean recently won his 100th international cap

James McClean, 34, is retained after dropping down the English Football League ladder to join League Two's Wrexham from Wigan.

Kenny admitted it is not ideal for the man who recently won his 100th cap to be playing in the fourth tier of English football, but added that it was not a major factor in selecting him for these two games.

"I think in the long term it's not ideal," Kenny explained while announcing his squad.

"He did speak to me. His club situation - he was in a predicament and he needed to move and this was why he had accepted (Wrexham).

"Ultimately he was man-of-the-match in the last game, albeit against Gibraltar. He performed well in the last window.

"Whether he was going to be playing three or four games in League One or three or four games in League Two, I didn't think it was going to be a significant difference in the short-term of this window.

"Subsequently he has been injured and we have named three left wing-backs in the squad, so we will see."

Connolly showed 'great humility and determination'

Last September, Connolly was called up for the under-21 squad for their crunch Euro 2023 qualifying play-off against Israel, where they lost on penalties as they failed in their bid to reach the main tournament which took place this summer in Georgia and Romania.

He has been rewarded for his prolific start to the new league season with Hull which has seen him three goals from four substitute appearances in the Championship since joining Liam Rosenior's side from Brighton on a one-year contract.

"It is unusual to pick someone who has not been starting, he's not been starting for Hull, but everyone knows it hasn't been a straightforward journey for Aaron," Kenny said.

"But he showed great humility and great determination to go back to the under-21 team, playing in Israel, and playing in the play-offs.

"He's got a great manager in Liam Rosenior, who he has a very good relationship with and has been very good for him.

"His two goals against Blackburn were outstanding, really good goals. He hasn't been starting for Hull so it's not realistic to start for us, but he's shown his capacity to come on and get goals in the last couple of weeks. That's why he's included."

Republic of Ireland squad:

Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Stoke City, on loan from AFC Bournemouth).

Defenders: Matt Doherty* (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Festy Ebosele (Udinese), Enda Stevens (Stoke City), Ryan Manning (Southampton), James McClean (Wrexham), Shane Duffy (Norwich City), John Egan (Sheffield United), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Burnley), Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough).

Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen).

Forwards: Adam Idah (Norwich City), Will Keane (Preston North End), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Aaron Connolly (Hull City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town).

*Suspended for match vs France