Alex Bruce won his first Republic of Ireland cap as Steve Staunton's side started their US tour with a 1-1 draw with Ecuador in New York. Reading's Kevin Doyle scored the Irish goal.

The Irish complete their short trip to the States with a game against Bolivia at the Gillette Stadium, Boston on Saturday.

Elsewhere, it appears to be a quiet day on the Town transfer story front, other than keeper Jaroslav Drobný, who was with Town on a short-term contract last season, signing a three-year deal at Hertha Berlin.

Reports that Charlton could allow former Blue Darren Bent to join Arsenal on loan for next season seem unlikely with the Addicks expected to require the financial boost the sale of the England striker would provide.

Alan Pardew's club have few other saleable assets and are understood to want £15 million for the 23-year-old. The Addicks have already strengthened their striking options ahead of their first season back in the Championship by paying £2 million for Crewe's Luke Varney and signing Colchester's Chris Iwelumo on a Bosman.

Town are due 20% of anything above the £2.6 million the Addicks have so far paid for Bent. With the frontman looking unlikely to play in England's game against Estonia next month due to knee problems, the Blues will probably not now see anything of the £200,000 due on each of Bent's first two competitive England games.

Ireland: Colin Doyle (Birmingham City), Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City), Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town), Alan Bennett (Reading), Stephen O'Halloran (Aston Villa) (Joe O'Cearuill Arsenal 73), Andy Keogh (Wolves) (Joe Gamble, Cork City 69), Darren Potter (Wolves), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic) (Stephen Gleeson, Wolves 79), Stephen Hunt (Reading) (Anthony Stokes, Sunderland 69), Kevin Doyle (Reading)(Shane Long, Reading 60), Daryl Murphy (Sunderland) (Joe Lapira Notre Dame Uni 85).

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