​UP-AND-COMING Plymouth Argyle striker Joe Mason will miss the Carling Cup first round tie against Notts County next month.

It follows his call-up to the Republic of Ireland under-21s squad for the first time.

Mason has been selected for their European Championship qualifier against Estonia at the

Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, on August 10.

That is the same night as the Pilgrims play Notts County in the Carling Cup.

As Ireland’s game is a European Championship qualifier, Argyle are powerless to prevent him from playing for them.

Mason, 19, has already shown his considerable potential in pre-season.

He scored three of Argyle’s four goals during their tour to the Netherlands last week.

Mason was born and bred in Plymouth but his mother comes from County Mayo.

He made six appearances, and scored two goals, for Ireland under-19s last season, but is now too old for that age group.

Mason had previously represented the country at under-16 and under-18 level.

His call-up into the under-21s comes a successful first season as a professional with the Pilgrims in 2009/10.

He scored three goals in the Championship, after making his debut last December.

Ireland under-21s are bottom of Group 2 in the European Championship qualifiers, with a record of four draws and three defeats in their seven games.

New head coach Noel King is already planning ahead, and Mason could feature prominently.

Ireland’s squad against Estonia also includes midfielder Alan Judge and striker Cillian Sheridan, who both had loan spells with Argyle last season.

After the game at Tallaght Stadium, Ireland will have two more European Championship qualifiers to play.

The first is against Switzerland on September 3 – the day before Argyle are at home to Brighton and Hove Albion in League One.

Ireland will then travel to play Turkey four days later.

Argyle could request the postponement of their league clash with Brighton should three or more players be called up on international duty, at either senior or under-21s level.

That rule does not apply to the Carling Cup, however.

Football League spokesman John Nagle told Herald Sport: “The clubs agreed to forego the opportunity to ask for postponements in these instances, in preference to playing the first round before the league campaign kicks off.”

Meanwhile, Argyle target Tony Capaldi is continuing his trial with Championship club Crystal Palace.

Capaldi played at left-back for Palace in their 0-0 draw at Bromley on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old, who is wanted by Argyle manager Peter Reid, will also feature for Palace in their next pre-season game away to Brentford tomorrow.

Capaldi was one of four trialists who lined-up for the Eagles against Bromley.

The others included former Macedonia international Velice Sumulikoski, the former Ipswich Town and Preston North End midfielder.

Palace boss George Burley said: “I thought the trialists did well (against Bromley) and we will have another look at them on Friday.”

Capaldi went to Argyle’s training camp in the Netherlands and played in all three of their matches.

His performances, both in training and in the games, impressed Reid.

With Capaldi now at Palace, at least temporarily, Reid has been running the rule over former Everton and Southampton left-back Lee Molyneux.

The 21-year-old began a trial with Argyle on Monday and played in their latest pre-season friendly, a 1-0 win away to Hereford United last night.

Reid wants someone to provide competition to Onismor Bhasera for the left-back position.

The Pilgrims’ boss has already decided that Chris Barker, 30, does not fit into his future plans.