BLUES defender Alex Bruce will lead out the Republic of Ireland 'B' team against Scotland tonight.Bruce, who was an unused substitute in the senior side's 2-2 draw with Wales in a European Championship qualifier at the weekend, was named skipper for the international friendly at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium.

By Derek Davis

BLUES defender Alex Bruce will lead out the Republic of Ireland 'B' team against Scotland tonight.

Bruce, who was an unused substitute in the senior side's 2-2 draw with Wales in a European Championship qualifier at the weekend, was named skipper for the international friendly at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium.

Irish boss Pat Devlin made the announcement in Glasgow as the side prepared at the city's university.

He will be joined in the side by in-form Ipswich Town striker Jon Walters and Colchester United's Mark Yeates.

Walters is expecting a start against the Scots after a hat-trick in his last game for Town as they beat Bristol City 6-0. His performance in that game handed him a record 70 points in the Actim Index and pushed him up the table to second place, just behind leader Alan Lee, his Ipswich team-mate.

Although Shane Supple won a call up to the Under-21s, the news for Irish duo Billy Clarke and Owen Garvan is not so good.

Garvan is still struggling with a calf strain while Clarke has a thigh problem and neither will take part in the qualifying match in Athlone against Bulgaria.

The pair are also facing a battle to be fit in time for Ipswich's trip to Cardiff City at the weekend.

Blues boss Jim Magilton will have everything crossed for Northern Ireland as they still have an outside chance of qualifying for next year's European Championships.

Nigel Worthington's side must beat Spain, who have already qualified, while hoping Latvia beat Sweden.

A campaign has been started by the IFA to have David Healy's record-breaking 13 goals in the qualifying stages recognised by UEFA.