SM
Friday, November 8
Upcoming predictions and previews

Kyle Lafferty left out of Northern Ireland squad for Euro qualifier

:Headline: Kyle Lafferty left out of Northern Ireland squad for Euro qualifier: ID:369536: from db_amp
The 31-year-old's lack of game time was key to the decision.

Kyle Lafferty has been left out of Northern Ireland's squad for next month's Euro 2020 qualifier against Germany and the preceding friendly against Luxembourg following his move to Norwegian club Sarpsborg this week.

Liam Donnelly, Northern Ireland's most capped under-21 international, is back in the senior set-up after an impressive start to the season with Motherwell, while there is also a return for Ross County defender Callum Morris.

But there is no place for Lafferty, nor his former Rangers team-mate Gareth McAuley, who is without a club after be released at the end of the season.

Michael O'Neill indicated Lafferty's lack of game time was key to the decision, with the 31-year-old only completing his move on Tuesday after being released by Rangers earlier this summer.

"Kyle hasn't played enough football," O'Neill said. "He also has a new club and we wouldn't want to risk him getting injured.

"The same applies with Gareth. He hasn't played a competitive game since February."

Donnelly, 23, made his senior debut five years ago against Chile but has not appeared again since, instead becoming a stalwart of the under-21 set up as he gained 24 caps.

This season he has moved from defence to midfield for Motherwell with outstanding results, scoring seven goals in seven appearances so far this campaign.

Morris gets his first call up since 2017 following an injury to Arsenal's Daniel Ballard, who is on loan at Swindon.

"It's a shame about Daniel," O'Neill said. "He got injured in a game and didn't notice. He's gone back to Arsenal.

"But we have Callum Morris who has done well and integrated well before."

There is no place for Linfield's Shayne Lavery despite the 20-year-old's brace against Qarabag in the Europa League last week.

That leaves O'Neill with a group of four strikers comprising Liam Boyce, who scored a hat-trick for Burton in the League Cup on Tuesday, Josh Magennis, Conor Washington and Paul Smyth.

Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson is back in the group ahead of Conor Hazard, with Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Michael McGovern the other options between the posts.

Northern Ireland face Luxembourg on September 5 before playing Germany on September 9, with both matches at Windsor Park.

Northern Ireland squad: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Burnley), Michael McGovern (Norwich), Trevor Carson (Motherwell); Jonny Evans (Leicester), Craig Cathcart (Watford), Conor McLaughlin (Sunderland), Jamal Lewis (Norwich), Michael Smith (Hearts), Tom Flanagan (Sunderland), Callum Morris (Ross County); Steven Davis (Rangers), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), Corry Evans (Blackburn), Stuart Dallas (Leeds), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough), George Saville (Middlesbrough), Jordan Jones (Rangers), Gavin Whyte (Cardiff), Jordan Thompson (Blackpool), Liam Donnelly (Motherwell); Josh Magennis (Hull), Conor Washington (Hearts), Liam Boyce (Burton), Paul Smyth (Wycombe).

amp_article__369536 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-08-28 12:10:44:
html db last update - 2019-08-28 12:10:44 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Kyle Lafferty

Click here for more stories about Northern Ireland

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .