Town defender Alex Bruce will captain the Republic of Ireland in their challenge match against Nottingham Forest at Dalymount Park, Dublin on Thursday evening.

Bruce's Blues team-mate Owen Garvan is on the bench for the game which involves players on the fringes of Giovanni Trapattoni's senior side and will not see the award of caps.

Garvan, who is likely to be used as a second half sub, says he hopes to impress Trapattoni enough to push his way into the full squad: "With the ‘B' squad, you have to come in and take your chance straight away, and that's what I aim to do.

"Hopefully, [Giovanni Trapattoni] has seen something in me. There have been a few injuries to the senior squad so there are places up for grabs.”

The midfielder is also in the U21 squad for a friendly in Lithuania next Tuesday. If he plays, he will win his seventh U21 cap.

Bruce, who has one full cap, is also in the senior Irish squad for their World Cup qualifier with Cyprus at Croke Park, Dublin next Wednesday.

Republic of Ireland XI v Nottingham Forest: Joe Murphy - Scunthorpe United, Kevin Foley - Wolves, Alex Bruce - Ipswich, Darren O'Dea - Celtic (captain), Stephen Ward - Wolves, Andy Keogh - Wolves, Keith Andrews - Blackburn Rovers, Darren Potter - Wolves, Wes Hoolahan – Norwich City Shane Long - Reading, Caleb Folan - Hull City. Substitutes: Anthony Stokes - Sunderland, Kieran Westwood - Coventry City, Eddie Nolan - Blackburn Rovers, Darron Gibson - Manchester Utd, Martin Rowlands - QPR, Owen Garvan - Ipswich Town, Sean Scannell - Crystal Palace, Keith Treacy - Blackburn Rovers.

Photo: Action Images

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