Corry Evans and Craig Cathcart included for Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier squad
Monday 13 March 2017 10:55, UK
Corry Evans and Craig Cathcart have been included for Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Norway on March 26 at Windsor Park, live on Sky Sports.
However, Michael O'Neill's squad are without Sunderland's Paddy McNair and striker Billy Mckay while injury issues for goalkeeper Trevor Carson mean 39-year-old 'keeper Roy Carroll re-joins the squad.
Ryan McLaughlin, 22, joins his brother Conor, 25, in O'Neill's selection after becoming a regular for Sky Bet League One Oldham.
"Ryan is in and has played consistently now this season at Oldham," the Northern Ireland boss said.
"It's the biggest run of games in his career and the reports have been good. He's played in a variety of positions so it's nice to see a young player coming back in again."
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O'Neill has a strong defence as Cathcart returns to the squad, with Jonny Evans and Gareth McAuley in excellent form for West Brom.
Cathcart played every minute at Euro 2016 but has only appeared 12 times for Watford this season and had to take three months out with a groin injury.
"We've not had him for four games and we saw in the summer how important Craig is to us," added O'Neill.
"It's been a difficult season for him, he came back and had the operation early in the season and it's been a bit stop-start for him. He's certainly a player I much prefer to be in the squad than out of it."
Evans has been included in the squad despite not appearing for Blackburn since January 2.
"If anything it will be a benefit if he gets some game time and some intense training to build him up," Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray said on Tuesday.
In the race to finish runners-up behind world champions Germany, Northern Ireland are ahead of Azerbaijan on goal difference.
Northern Ireland squad: M McGovern , A Mannus, R Carroll, G McAuley, J Evans, A Hughes, C Cathcart, C McLaughlin, L Hodson, T Flanagan, R McLaughlin, C Brunt , S Davis, N McGinn, O Norwood, C Evans, J Ward, S Dallas, M Lund, P Paton, K Lafferty, J Magennis , C Washington, L Boyce.
Watch Northern Ireland v Norway live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 7.30pm on Sunday, March 26.
