Shane Duffy replaces injured Richard Dunne in Republic squad

Shane Duffy represented Northern Ireland at youth level before switching to the Republic

Everton's Shane Duffy has been called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the game against the Czech Republic.

Uncapped Duffy replaces Aston Villa's Richard Dunne, who broke a collar bone in Sunday's defeat by Manchester City.

Duffy, 20, previously played for Northern Ireland youth and under-21s teams but opted to change allegiance to the Republic of Ireland in 2010.

Giovanni Trapattoni's side will face the Czechs in the friendly at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on 29 February.

Derry-born Duffy suffered a freak injury at a Republic senior squad training camp in May 2010 and had to undergo life-saving surgery in Dublin after rupturing his hepatic artery.

However, the Londonderry native made a full recovery and has since gone on to represent the Republic's under-21s on six occasions.

Republic of Ireland squad: Shay Given (Aston Villa), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland), David Forde (Millwall); John O'Shea (Sunderland), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Stephen Ward (Wolves), Shane Duffy (Everton), Sean St Ledger (Leicester), Darren O'Dea (Leeds), Kevin Foley (Wolves); Glenn Whelan (Stoke), James McCarthy (Wigan), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Keith Andrews (West Brom), Keith Fahey (Birmingham), Darron Gibson (Everton), Damien Duff (Fulham), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Stephen Hunt (Wolves); Robbie Keane (Aston Villa), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Shane Long, Simon Cox (both West Brom), Jon Walters (Stoke).