International call-up for Hoolahan

Norwich wideman Wes Hoolahan has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for a pre-World Cup qualifying challenge match against Nottingham Forest next month.

Irish boss Giovanni Trapattoni will run the rule over his senior fringe players at Dalymount Park on October 9 - six days before Cyrpus visit Croke Park for a Group Eight qualifier.

Hoolahan made his Republic debut last summer in a friendly against Colombia at Craven Cottage after being part of Trapattoni's Portugal training camp.

“This game will give me an important opportunity to work closely with many of our talented players,” said Trapattoni. “We have another eight games ahead of us in our challenge for World Cup qualification, and I have no doubt that some of this squad will be called upon to play their part. I want to thank our scouting team and our Under-21 manager Don Givens for identifying many new players who are performing well this year.

“I have already worked with some of this squad during our time in Portugal and I look forward to working with those I have not already seen. The October 9 game will form part of an important build-up to our first home World Cup qualifier match against Cyprus the following week.”

Squad: Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe), Keiren Westwood (Coventry), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Alex Bruce (Ipswich), Darren O'Dea (Celtic), Stephen Ward (Wolves), Paddy McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Eddie Nolan (Blackburn), Andy Keogh (Wolves), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Darren Potter (Wolves), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich), Martin Rowlands (QPR), Owen Garvan (Ipswich), Shane Long (Reading), Caleb Folan (Hull), Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace), Noel Hunt (Reading),Liam Lawrence (Stoke), Keith Treacy (Blackburn), Keith Andrews (Blackburn), Anthony Stokes (Sunderland).

City's on loan Portsmouth frontman OJ Koroma has been named in the Gambia squad for a game against Senegal in Dakar on October 11.