x

Bruce to Captain Irish Against Nottingham Forest - Ipswich Town News

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 â€" 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.

What to read next:

[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Huddersfield Game Live on Sky
The Blues’ final game of the season at home to Huddersfield Town on Saturday is among those being shown live on Sky Sports.
London Branch Meet-Up For Coventry Match
The London Branch of the Ipswich Town Supporters Club is inviting fellow fans to watch Tuesday’s live-on-Sky away game against Coventry City at the Brondes Age public house in Camden.
Hayes Set For Second Wembley Trip
Keeper Nick Hayes will be making two trips to Wembley next month, his Solihull Moors loan side having reached the National League Promotion Final.
Former Skipper Nets Hat-Trick in Final Game
Former Blues skipper David Norris ended his career on a dramatic note, netting a hat-trick for Lancaster City in his final match, a 4-3 Northern Premier League Premier Division defeat at FC United of Manchester on Saturday.
McKenna: Players Handling Big Three-Game Week Really Well
Town visit Coventry City live on Sky on Tuesday night knowing that a victory would take them a point away from securing promotion back to the Premier League after 22 years away.
No Dividends For PLC Shareholders
The board of the Ipswich Town PLC has written to its shareholders confirming that its stake in the club has now reduced to less than one per cent and outlining that any dividends taken out of Town in future will go solely to majority owners Gamechanger 20 Ltd.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Rosenior: I Couldn't Be Prouder of My Players
Hull City manager Liam Rosenior said he couldn’t have been prouder of his players following last night’s 3-3 draw with Town which keeps the Tigers hopes of making the play-offs alive going into their final match and wished the Blues well for the remainder of the campaign.
Hull City 3-3 Ipswich Town - Highlights
Highlights of yesterday’s 3-3 draw with Hull City at the MKM Stadium.