COLIN Doyle will be pleading for extra-time from City as he bids to earn a second international cap.

While his Valley Parade team-mates are putting their feet up on holiday, the keeper is currently with the Republic of Ireland in America for their friendly against Mexico in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Doyle's first game since City's play-off agony at Wembley kicks off a run of three in the space of ten days.

Martin O'Neill's side then return to Dublin for another warm-up outing with Uruguay on Sunday before hosting Austria in their next World Cup qualifier the following weekend.

It potentially means a very short summer break for Doyle – unless he can sweet-talk Stuart McCall.

He said: "The last Ireland game is on June 11 and pre-season starts on the 29th, so I'll only get just over two weeks off. But I'm sure the manager will give me a few more days if I need it.

"I've been looking forward to this since the squad was announced. Hopefully I'll be able to get a bit of game time in one of the friendlies – it would be nice to get my second cap."

Tonight's game at MetLife Stadium will bring back memories for the City stopper, whose only previous appearance in an Ireland shirt was also in New Jersey at the former Giants Stadium in a 1-1 draw against Ecuador ten years ago.

"It was at a different stadium, that's not even there any more, but it would be great to be involved again," said Doyle.

"It's going to be warm but I don't think we'll be doing much sight-seeing. We'll be in and out pretty quick because we fly back almost straight after."

Doyle and Darren Randolph of West Ham are the only goalkeepers in the squad that arrived in America on Monday, so he is confident of seeing some of the action.

He was recalled to the international squad last November and sat on the Irish bench for the 1-0 win over Austria in Vienna.

Doyle was also unused on the sidelines for their double-header against Wales and Iceland in March.

He said: "It's just an honour to be involved again. When I came to this club, I wanted to try and get back in the international squad again.

"Luckily enough, halfway through the season I have done and I've stayed in up until now. Hopefully I can get a game this time."

Republic of Ireland are unbeaten in World Cup qualifying group D. They are currently second at the halfway stage in the race to next summer's finals in Russia – on goal difference behind leaders Serbia.