JAMES Golding is not involved in the Republic of Ireland Under 19s’ game against Gibraltar today.

The Oxford United teenager has joined up with the young Boys in Green for their September internationals – even though he was not named in last week’s squad announcement.

Golding has trained with his country but has not been included in Ireland’s starting XI or substitutes for this afternoon’s Under 19 European Championships qualifier against Gibraltar, which kicked-off at 4pm.

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The reason for the defender’s absence is unclear and whether he is involved in Saturday’s game against Wales or next Tuesday’s clash with Hungary remains to be seen.

Golding received his first Ireland Under 19 call-up in May and played in two friendlies against Iceland in June, while he was also selected for a four-day training camp in Loughborough last month.

He has since made five appearances for United this season.

Meanwhile, Jodi Jones could be in contention to make his Malta debut against Estonia on Friday evening.

The winger joined up with the national team after recovering from a knee issue that kept him out of United’s defeat at Plymouth Argyle last Tuesday.

Jones was fit enough to take part in the warm-up ahead of Saturday’s match against MK Dons.

Malta’s trip to Estonia is their penultimate Nations League game and they complete their League D Group 2 schedule with a home tie against Israel next Tuesday.

Ciaron Brown is also in Nations League action during the international break, starting with Northern Ireland’s fixture at home to Kosovo at Windsor Park on Saturday.

The U’s defender is then set to fly out to Greece for his country’s final League C Group 2 clash next Tuesday evening.