{"id":9142,"date":"2019-08-28T08:29:53","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T12:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=9142"},"modified":"2019-08-28T13:31:29","modified_gmt":"2019-08-28T17:31:29","slug":"lafferty-left-out-of-northern-ireland-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=9142","title":{"rendered":"Lafferty Left Out Of Northern Ireland Squad"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Kyle Lafferty has been left out of Northern Ireland\u2019s squad for next month\u2019s Euro 2020 qualifier against Germany and the preceding friendly against Luxembourg following his move to Norwegian club Sarpsborg this week.<\/p>\n

Liam Donnelly, Northern Ireland\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Michael O\u2019Neill indicated Lafferty\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cKyle hasn\u2019t played enough football,\u201d O\u2019Neill said. \u201cHe also has a new club and we wouldn\u2019t want to risk him getting injured.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe same applies with Gareth. He hasn\u2019t played a competitive game since February.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

This season he has moved from defense to midfield for Motherwell with outstanding results, scoring seven goals in seven appearances so far this campaign.<\/p>\n

Morris gets his first call up since 2017 following an injury to Arsenal\u2019s Daniel Ballard, who is on loan at Swindon.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a shame about Daniel,\u201d O\u2019Neill said. \u201cHe got injured in a game and didn\u2019t notice. He\u2019s gone back to Arsenal.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we have Callum Morris who has done well and integrated well before.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is no place for Linfield\u2019s Shayne Lavery despite the 20-year-old\u2019s brace against Qarabag in the Europa League last week.<\/p>\n

That leaves O\u2019Neill 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Northern Ireland face Luxembourg on September 5 before playing Germany on September 9, with both matches at Windsor Park.<\/p>\n

Northern Ireland squad:<\/strong> 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).<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>