Keogh, Sammon & Hendrick in Ireland's thoughts for their summer internationals.

Derby County trio Richard Keogh, Conor Sammon and Jeff Hendrick have been named in the Republic of Ireland’s preliminary squad for their four upcoming international matches during May and June.

The final squad for the games will be announced in due course, but for now the trio have one foot in the door to, potentially, go up against some of the biggest stars in world football.

Ireland will play international friendly fixtures versus England at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday 29th May 2013 and then Georgia at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday 2nd June 2013, as well as a FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifier at home to Faroe Islands in Dublin on Friday 7th June 2013, prior to playing another friendly fixture against Spain at Yankee Stadium in New York on Tuesday 11th June 2013.

Derby’s 2012-13 Player of the Year Keogh will hope his triple award-winning first season at Pride Park will have done enough for him to be given the chance to add to his single international cap, which was collected as a substitute against Poland back in February.

Sammon and Hendrick both made their debuts on the same night as Keogh in the 2-0 success against Poland at the Aviva Stadium.

Frontman Sammon, who scored the winning goal against Millwall on the final day of the season just over a week ago, is now on three international caps after featuring against Sweden and Austria in March, while Hendrick could also be given the chance to build on his single appearance for the full national side after being an unused substitute for the Sweden and Austria games.

Keogh played 49 times in all competitions for Derby during the 2012-13 campaign, while Sammon and 21-year-old Hendrick both racked up a total of 47 matches.