Rangers duo Andrew Little and Dean Shiels have been included in the Northern Ireland squad to face Finland later this month.
McLaughlin wins first call-up for Finland friendly
Rangers duo Andrew Little and Dean Shiels have been included in the Northern Ireland squad to face Finland later this month.
It had been suggested Little and Shiels could lose their place in the Northern Ireland squad due to the fact that Rangers will be playing in Scotland's Third Division this season.
However, Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill has decided to include the pair in his 23-man squad for the friendly with Finland on 15th August.
However, Northern Ireland's all-time top scorer David Healy, who is currently without a club after leaving Rangers, has been omitted from the squad. Midfielder Sammy Clingan, himself unattached having left Coventry, has also been left out despite being captain against Holland in June.
Liverpool youngster Ryan McLaughlin, who has featured for the Reds in pre-season, has won his first call-up to the squad.
Fulham defender Chris Baird is also included, indicating that he has chosen to continue his international career having stated he was considering retirement.
Chris Brunt has been named in the squad despite facing a fight to be fit for the start of the new season with a calf injury.
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans is missing as he recovers with a foot injury.
Finland is the final friendly fixture before Northern Ireland begin qualification for the 2014 World Cup against Russia in Moscow on 7th September.
O'Neill has lost both games since taking charge, shipping nine goals in defeats by Norway and Holland.
Full squad:
L Camp (Nottingham Forest), R Carroll (Olympiakos), A Mannus (St Johnstone), G McAuley (West Brom), R McGivern (Man City), A Hughes (Fulham), J McPake (Hibernian), L Hodson (Watford), C Cathcart (Blackpool), C Baird (Fulham), D Lafferty (Burnley), S Davis (Southampton), D Shiels (Rangers), C Brunt (West Brom), C Evans (Hull), P McCourt (Celtic), S Ferguson (Newcastle), O Norwood (Huddersfield), R McLaughlin (Liverpool), J Ward (Derby), M Paterson (Burnley), K Lafferty (Sion), A Little (Rangers).
