Albion left-back Stephen Ward has kept his place in Martin O'Neill's Republic of Ireland squad.

The on-loan Wolves defender has been named in a provisional 29-man squad for the Republic's home friendly against Serbia at the Aviva Stadium on March 5.

The squad will be trimmed before the players meet up on March 2 to cater for injuries.

Ward has returned from the international wilderness since O'Neill and Roy Keane replaced Giovanni Trapattoni.

He featured in back-to-back friendlies in November against Latvia and Poland.

Ward, 28, was rested for Albion's FA Cup draw against Hull on Monday.

The Irish squad also features Hull trio Stephen Quinn, David Meyler and Shane Long, who was ineligible for the trip to the Amex and remains Cup-tied for next Monday's replay at the KC Stadium.

Albion captain Gordon Greer has already been named in the Scotland squad for a friendly in Poland on March 5.

The international matches for Greer and Ward fall between a trip to Millwall for the Seagulls and the visit of Reading in the Championship or an FA Cup quarter-final at home to Gus Poyet's Sunderland.