Town striker David McGoldrick has been named in a reduced 19-man Republic of Ireland squad for their friendly with Mexico at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in the early hours of Friday morning (Premier HD, from 1am).
Manager Martin O’Neill and his assistant, former Blues boss Roy Keane, selected a 37-man party for their June matches with a number of senior players, including ex-Town skipper Jon Walters, not involved in the Mexico game but linking with the squad ahead of Sunday’s friendly with Uruguay in Dublin.
The games are in preparation for the World Cup qualifier against Austria on Sunday 11th June, also in Dublin.
McGoldrick, who along with his former Blues strike partner Daryl Murphy took part in a three-day training camp at the Fota Island resort in Cork last week, will be looking to add to his five caps and open his international goals account.
The 29-year-old’s ex-Town team-mate Stephen Hunt believes the Blues number 10 could have a major role to play as Ireland look to reach next summer's finals in Russia.
"I have said for a long time that David McGoldrick will have a big part to play in this World Cup campaign,” Hunt wrote in his column in the Sunday Independent.
"He is the best striker Ireland have in terms of football ability. I saw first-hand at Ipswich the quality he has, but he has suffered little niggles and injuries.
"When he has come on as a sub for Ireland in the past, he's looked like he has already been on the pitch for an hour.
"International football is tough, particularly when you are new and coming into games as a substitute. But you have to be ready at all times to get on that pitch and make a difference for your country.
"Like McGoldrick, the majority of players in the squad play in the Championship, but I do not see that as a problem and that is the way it is always going to be with the Ireland squad.
Training underway in New Jersey! #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/sY2orEwHXq– FAIreland (@FAIreland) May 30, 2017
"There are so many foreign players in Premier League squads now, not just the starting XIs, that it is becoming increasingly difficult for young Irish and even British players to break through.
"When I was a Championship player I played some of my best football for Ireland. It is a totally different game and team so it evokes different emotions and feelings in a player and they can inspire you. That's what McGoldrick needs.
"He needs to get fully fit and be ready to get into the pace of games when he gets his opportunity because there is no doubt that he is capable of producing a bit of magic which can make all the difference in tight games, particularly at this level.”
Town duo Tommy Smith and Monty Patterson have joined the rest of the New Zealand squad in Belfast ahead of their friendly against Northern Ireland on Friday (Premier HD, from 7.30pm).
PHOTO I Welcome into #AllWhites training to skipper @officialcwood and @tommysmith1990 @NorthernIreland pic.twitter.com/Uxb6YYo5QG– New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) May 30, 2017
The match is part of the All Whites’ pre-tournament programme ahead of the Confederations Cup in Russia later in the month.
They face League of Ireland side Cabinteely in Dublin next Tuesday with head coach Anthony Hudson picking his final squad for the trip to Russia two days after that match.
Meanwhile, Cedarwood Primary School in Kesgrave, representing Town, were beaten 2-1 in the final of the EFL Kinder+ Sport Kids Cup by Derby’s Etwall Primary ahead of yesterday’s Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Skipper Reuben Swann pulled a late goal back for the young Blues but they were unable to find an equaliser.
Elsewhere, Town are joint-third favourites for relegation from the Championship in 2017/18, according to SkyBet.
Barnsley and Burton are co-favourites for the drop at 15-8 with Town, Bolton and Millwall all at 3-1.
Republic of Ireland: Colin Doyle (Bradford), Darren Randolph (West Ham), Cyrus Christie, Alex Pearce, Richard Keogh (all Derby), Shane Duffy (Brighton), Andy Boyle (Preston), Kevin Long (Burnley), John Egan (Brentford), Eunan O’Kane (Leeds), Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan (both Preston), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich), Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (West Brom), David McGoldrick (Ipswich), Daryl Murphy (Newcastle).