Douglas could be set for his first senior cap

ROVERS' midfield star Jonathon Douglas has been called up by the Republic of Ireland.

Duggie is in line for his first senior cap, a fitting and timely reward for a series of impressive Premiership performances in recent weeks.

He is named fro the first time in Brian Kerr's Republic of Ireland squad for Wednesday's friendly international with Poland in Bydgoszcz (kick off 5:00 pm GMT).

The 24-year-old, a product of Rovers' Academy, has been instrumental in helping Rovers ease away from the bottom three of the Premier League and has earned some rave reviews for his industrious performances.

Jonathon has played for Ireland at Junior levels, but never for the first team. Ironically, the withdrawal of ex-Rover Damien Duff, a great friend of Duggie's,  with a virus, has paved the way for his call-up.

Team-mate Steven Reid, who has had terrible luck with injuries this season and is battling to re-establish himself, is also included in the Irish squad.

Republic of Ireland squad: Given (Newcastle United), Colgan (Hibernian), Maybury (Hearts), Cunningham (Birmingham City), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Harte (Leeds United), O'Brien (Newcastle United), O'Shea (Manchester United), Miller (Celtic), Roy Keane (Manchester United), A Reid (Nottingham Forest), S Reid (Blackburn Rovers), Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Holland (Charlton Athletic), Kinsella (West Bromwich Albion), Douglas (Blackburn Rovers), Lee (Cardiff City), Connolly (West Ham United), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Morrison (Birmingham City).