Bruce Set for Bench Duty
Wednesday, 19th Nov 2008 00:05

Town's Alex Bruce has been left out of the Republic of Ireland starting line-up for Wednesday's friendly with Poland at Croke Park but is expected to be amongst the substitutes (Sky Sports Two, 7.30pm). If the defender makes an appearance, he will win his second full cap.

Elsewhere, Veliche Shumulikoski is expected to be in the Macedonia starting line-up as they play a friendly in Montenegro.

On Tuesday evening, Chris Casement won his 13th Northern Ireland U21 cap as his side beat Scotland 3-1 at Hamilton, the club where he is currently on loan.

Meanwhile, Town were well represented at the England U19 match against Germany at Colchester United on Tuesday evening, which the home side won 1-0 with Arsenal's Henri Lansbury netting the goal.

Boss Jim Magilton and chairman David Sheepshanks were spotted in the directors' box, while reserves manager Chris Kiwomya was amongst a host of club representatives keeping an eye on the game, including Charlton assistant boss Phil Parkinson and West Ham coach Steve Clarke.

Kiwomya is likely to know scorer Lansbury, Gavin Hoyte and Rhys Murphy from his time working in Arsenal's academy.

Republic of Ireland: Shay Given (Newcastle United), Paul McShane (Hull City), John O'Shea (Manchester United), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic), Andy Keogh (Wolves), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Damien Duff (Newcastle United), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Caleb Folan (Hull City), Subs from: Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town), Damien Delaney (QPR), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen Hunt (Reading), Liam Miller (Sunderland), Noel Hunt (Reading), Anthony Stokes (Sheffield United), Shane Long (Reading), Kieren Westwood (Coventry City), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United).

England U19s: 1 Ben Amos, 2 Kieran Trippier (12 Jordan Spence 87), 3 Lee Hills, 4 Jack Rodwell, 5 Gavin Hoyte, 6 Nathan Baker, 7 Henri Lansbury (c) (17 Michael Woods 76), 8 Danny Drinkwater, 9 Danny Welbeck (16 Nathan Delfouneso 46), 10 Jacob Mellis (15 Rhys Murphy), 11 Victor Moses (14 Jonathan Franks 68). Unused: 13 Alex Smithies.

Photo: Action Images

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