Owen Garvan is closing in on winning his first cap for the Republic of Ireland.

The Town midfielder has been named in the squad of 28, that has been trimmed down from 40, for a training camp and friendlies against Serbia and Colombia later this month.

Owen will join his international team-mates for a training camp in Portugal before the Irish face Serbia at Croke Park on May 24 and then Colombia at Fulham's Craven Cottage on May 29.

He will be working under the new Irish national team coach, Giovanni Trapattoni and his assistants, Marco Tardelli and Liam Brady who will be taking charge of the squad for the first time.

Irish U21 boss Don Givens recommended the Academy graduate to Trapattoni after the 20-year-old impressed in the U21 European Championship qualifier against England at Southampton.

" It was a great honour to be picked for the squad of 40 so I'm obviously delighted to make the last 28. That was my first target," Owen told the Club website.

"Don Givens told me that he was putting my name forward to Mr Trapattoni and hopefully it's a sign that I am making progress.

"It should be a great experience and I'm really looking forward to it. With a new manager in charge, it's a chance for some of the younger players to make an impression."