Alex Bruce interview 1

However, he should also be recommended to take a look down at the English second tier, where a host of Irish players operate these days. With Reading and Sunderland also strugglilng down in the lower echelons of the Premiership, he could well find that come August a large percentage of his squad could be slugging it out in the Championship.

There is one team looking to raise the Premier League's Irish contingent next season though, Ipswich Town. With no fewer than eight Irish players in the senior squad, the Tractor remain in contention for a playoff spot as we approach the business end of the season.

One of those players is centre-back Alex Bruce, son of Wigan manager and former Manchester United stalwart Steve. Now in his second season at East Anglian club, the 23-year-old is thriving under the guidance of Jim Magilton, appearing in all but six of Ipswich's matches this campaign.

His form has been recognised on an international level too. After making his Irish senior debut last summer, Bruce has been a squad regular during the unsuccessful Euro 2008 qualifiers. Like everyone else around Irish football at the moment, he is both excited and relieved by Trapattoni's appointment, and aims to be pushing hard for a starting place come the May friendly with Serbia.

"I think it's a big boost for everyone," he admits. "He record speaks for itself. He's won European Cups, Serie A titles, it's a massive boost for the Irish set up. A lot of the Irish players just wanted someone to be appointed so we could get the saga out of the way, knuckle down and concentrate on qualifying for the World Cup in 2010.

"You look at the players he's worked with over the years; Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta. If he can turn me into something similar I'll be very happy!"

You know you're talking to a centre-back when he picks out three defenders - albeit exceptionally good one - ahead of stars like Del Piero, Totti, Klinsmann, even Liam Brady. Yet they all hold a significant link to Bruce because of their involvement in World Cup 94 in the USA, a tournament which made him realise that the Republic of Ireland were definitely for him.

In the build up to the tournament 14 years ago, manager Jack Charlton was struggling to find a partner for Paul McGrath in the centre of Ireland's defence. Charlton got news that Steve Bruce had Irish roots, and promptly got in touch, offering him an unexpected chance to play on football's greatest stage.

Unfortunately for Bruce senior, European club competitions allowed only four foreigners in each squad, and with Alex Ferguson having already filled those slots, Bruce was denied the opportunity.

He did travel over to the World Cup however as a guest of United team-mates Denis Irwin and Roy Keane, and brought son Alex along to take in the atmosphere of Giants stadium as Ireland toppled the Italians 1-0.

"I was only nine at the time, but I can remember the atmosphere as if it were yesterday. It was such a great experience.

"My Dad was close to getting a cap under Jack Charlton but unfortunately due to circumstances beyond his control he wasn't able to turn out for the Republic. It was a big regret of his. He would have loved to play in the World Cup. I remember having a great time over in the USA though. The supporters were absolutely fantastic, and it gave me a little insight into what Irish football was all about."

Bruce loved every minute of his Giants Stadium experience, but little did he realise back then that he'd be making his debut for Ireland in the same stadium 14 years later. Steve Staunton called him into the senior squad for the summer friendly tour to the United States, and Bruce made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Ecuador in Giants Stadium.

It was a memorable occasion for the young defender, making his international in a stadium that holds so many special memories for the boys in green. Yet, if the IFA had had their way, he may have been donning the green of the North instead. Bruce has grandparents who hail from either side of the border, and it was Northern Ireland who came first came calling at his door. Bruce was called up three times by the North but resisted their advances in the hope of a call from further south of the island.

"I had the choice of both the Republic and Northern Ireland, but to be honest I didn't even know I qualified for the North until they called me up. But I'd very fond memories of USA 94 and the supporters, so when opportunity arose to play for the Republic, it was a very easy decision to make.

"It was a great feeling making my debut for my country, one I'll never forget. I know I've a long way to go before I can say I've achieved anything near what my old man did, but he never got a full international cap though, so I do have one over him there!"