NORTHERN IRELAND ANNOUNCE SQUAD FOR AZERBAIJAN AND CROATIA

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has invited 25 players for the forthcoming games.

The list shows that O’Neill invited Chris Brunt and Will Grigg to the camp. West Brom’s Brunt returned after eight months due to a knee injury. He played last month for West Brom. Wigan’s Grigg will make his return after missing out twice because his partner gave birth.

Watford defender Craig Cathcart was not invited, as he is yet to fully recover from the groin injury he picked up in September. Michael McGovern, Alan Mannus and Trevor Carson are the invited goalkeepers. Aaron Hughes, Gareth McAuley, West Brom’s Jonny Evans, Ryan McGiven, Conor McLaughlin, Lee Hodson and Tom Flanagan are the invited players to stop the attack of the opposition

Steven Davis, Niall McGinn, Jamie Ward, Shane Ferguson, Ollie Norwood, Corry Evans, Paddy McNair, Paul Paton, and Matthew Lund would play in the middle.

Norwichcity’s Kyle Lafferty, Josh Magnennis of Charlton Athletic, Conor Washington of Queen Park Rangers will pair up with Grigg to lead the attack.

Peterborough’s Michael Smith, and Ross County’s Liam Boyce who were invited for the games last month against San Marino and Germany were not called up this time. O’Neill would be happy to play Brunt as the player missed the European Championship this year. Brunt has appeared three times for West Brom. He started Saturday’s game against Manchester City, which they lost 4-0.

“He’d been training well and we hoped he’d be available but in the last few weeks he’s made great strides. He’s a Premier League player and he’s always going to be in our squad. He was a big loss to us in the finals so it’s great to have him back,” O’Neill said. They play Croatia in a friendly at Windsor Park after hosting Azerbaijan.