SOCCER: EMMET MALONEhears Fulham's Stephen Kelly outline why he is up for leading the Republic of Ireland tonight

HE MAY be 27 and, it seems, have been around for quite a while at this level, but Stephen Kelly will only really come of age on the senior international stage this evening against Uruguay with the Dubliner getting to start his 21st appearance for his country as centre half and captain.

“It’s a huge honour, a privilege,” says the Fulham defender who seems as likeable as he is versatile. “The boss just told me this morning and it’s something you always kind of dream of when you’re a kid; first of all to represent your country, then to lead it out. It’s one of the greatest honours you could possibly ask for.”

Kelly has been seen as a leader of Irish teams before. He was a key member of the under-20 side that played at the Under-20 World Cup in the UAE seven years ago and went on to captain the under-21s for a couple of years.

At this level, though, he has worn the armband for just a brief spell of the win over South Africa in Limerick 18 months ago and he is aiming to savour what will be one of the highlights of his career when he walks out at the Aviva stadium tonight.

“I don’t think I’ll be nervous,” he says. “I’ve been around for a long enough at this stage to not be nervous. I’ll just look to get on, do well and enjoy it as much as I can, to be honest.

“I suppose there’s a little bit more pressure but that’s football. These are the kind of things you have to deal with. I’m up for it and more than capable of taking it (the opportunity) with both hands. I have not played for a couple of months, but fitness-wise, I have always been an extremely fit player and being able to come in and play 90 minutes now, I don’t think will be a problem to me.”

Kelly has certainly always given his all for the cause. First called up by Brian Kerr, he had to wait until Steve Staunton’s second game in charge to get his first game and in his second, against the Dutch, was part of a defence that was badly overrun by a fluent attacking side.

Next time out, though, he showed what he was made off, turning in a strong performance against the Czechs in Dublin as Staunton, without the likes of Richard Dunne, Steven Reid, Andy O’Brien and Ian Harte was forced to play John O’Shea and Steve Finnan in other positions and turned to him at left back in the wake of the 5-2 defeat in Cyprus. Kelly was one of several young players to emerge from the occasion with a great deal of credit.

Another suspension for Dunne means there is a place in central defence up for grabs in Skopje on June 4th and with Giovanni Trapattoni preferring him on this occasion to Ciarán Clark in the position because of his superior experience, the former Tottenham and Birmingham City player is sure he is in with a shout.

“Yeah, it’s just an opportunity at centre back to show the boss what I can do in that position, to make an impact on the team hopefully and lead from the defence.”

The position, he admits, has become a relatively unfamiliar one in recent years. He started his career at Spurs playing there but then moved to right back where, during his time at Birmingham, he managed one season when he played more than any other outfield player in the entire Premier League.

Still, he insists, he continues to enjoy the different challenge that being at the heart of things presents and he is anxious to show he can hold his own against one of the game’s most gifted strikers, Diego Forlan.

The worry is that in a much weakened side individual performances might actually be difficult to assess but Kelly is confident tonight’s starting line-up can do themselves justice.

“I think whoever was playing against them, it’s going to be difficult. They’re World Cup semi-finalists so of course it’s going to be a tough game. But it’s a good opportunity for the lads to make a good impression on the boss, to show him what they’re capable of doing. I think everyone’s going to have that in mind. Against better opposition you have to perform better yourself; that’s what everyone will be looking to do, raise their game and compete with them.”