Wolves defender Stephen Ward has been tipped for his first Republic of Ireland call-up next month against the mighty Brazil.

Ward is currently the only Irishman playing left back in the Premier League with former Albion man and 100-capped Kevin Kilbane out of favour at Hull.

The 24-year-old Dubliner has been in solid form since returning from a knee injury which may have cost him the chance of being in Ireland’s squad for their World Cup play-off against France.

Team-mate Kevin Doyle – one of three Irish internationals at Wolves with Andy Keogh and Kevin Foley – believes Ward may have been in Giovanni Trappatoni’s party but for injury.

Now he might get his chance at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, March 2.

“He might have been anyway, but he got injured earlier in the season,” said Doyle.

“When Stephen gets this season under his belt and gains experience from that, he’ll be in the Irish squads.”

And Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, who successfully converted Ward from a striker, believes he should be capped.

“I think so. I don’t think there’s a doubt about that,” said the boss.

McCarthy said he would recommend Ward to the Irish management.

“I speak to (assistant manager) Liam Brady and Wardy will always get a glowing recommendation,” he said.

“Wardy wasn’t fit earlier in the season so there was no point in ringing up.

“But if someone rings me in February and asks if Ward can play, I’d say absolutely.

“He’s the nearest thing to Kevin Kilbane – a left-winger who ends up a left-back because he tackles and works so hard. He’s a great character.

“He’ll continue improving because he works at his game.

“He asks questions and watches what we show him on the computer.

“He’s improving all the time from being a centre-forward-cum-left winger to going to left-back playing well in the Premier League.”

McCarthy believes the timing could be right for Ward.

“The February-March game is notorious for seeing a squad of 50 whittled down to 16 because they’ll either be divorced, beheaded, dead, have a sore throat, have an eye missing or be hobbling on one leg!” he said.

“Every February, Curtis Fleming said ‘My bag is packed by the phone because I know the gaffer will be calling!’ He got loads of caps.”