Exeter's Cummins 'fully deserves' Ireland U21 call-up

Exeter City manager Matt Taylor says midfielder Charlie Cummins deserves his call-up to the Republic of Ireland's under-21 side.

The 21-year-old has been in impressive form this season, scoring three times including the winner in Exeter's 2-1 FA Cup first-round victory at League One leaders Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

Cummins has progressed through Exeter's academy system since moving to St James park in January 2024 from Cobh Ramblers for an undisclosed fee.

He has been a mainstay of the side this season having started all 14 of Exeter's League Two fixtures.

"It's fully deserved. Not just his performances but the way he's conducted himself and he's playing a man's game in a really serious level of football," Taylor told BBC Radio Devon.

"So when he goes to under-21s level with Ireland I hope he continues that and looks like he has done.

"His goals recently have been an added bonus, but his performances are going from strength to strength.

"He fully deserves it, it's great for his family, fantastic for the football club and the academy again, another young player who's now into that international bracket as well as just being a first-team player."

Cummins' call-up for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs against Finland came as a replacement for an injured player.

As such it was only announced on Monday and came after the cut-off for Exeter to get Saturday's game with Cheltenham Town postponed.

The Grecians also have Kenya's Vincent Harper and Scotland Under-21 player Ethan Sutherland away on international duty.

"Two days earlier then the game gets called off if we want it to," added Taylor.

"You don't want any game of football called off, I'm not in that mindset whatsoever.

"But you also, selfishly as a manager, want your best players available at all times.

"You're torn really, but then the administrators and the people who produce a schedule or work to a schedule say if too many games are called off then there's too much to fit in at the back end of the season.

"We've not hit the winter months where games might be called off due to the weather or further cup runs.

"I've not got the answers, we just feel a little bit hard done by going into this weekend.

"But no excuses from me, no excuses from the team. If one player is not available, like some of our players weren't available last weekend, it's an opportunity to see the strength and depth that we've got."