Lafferty added to Northern Ireland squad

Last updated : 19 March 2015 By Tony Scholes

Michael O'Neill, who has this week appointed Jimmy Nicholl as his number two, didn't include him although he did name two ex-Clarets, Chris Baird and Kyle Lafferty, in the 23 man squad.

However, two of the initial squad have since dropped out, Newcastle's Shane Ferguson and Sammy Clingan of Kilmarnock, both with knee injuries, and that has seen Lafferty, along with Paul Paton of Dundee United, added to the squad to replace them.

They play the friendly against Scotland on next Wednesday, 25th March, at Hampden Park before returning home to Windsor Park for the qualifier against Finland on Sunday 29th March.

Danny will be looking to add to the ten full caps he's already won but it is over nine months since he last played for his country, that coming in a 2-0 friendly defeat against Chile in June of last year.

He won't be facing any of his Turf Moor team mates in the Scotland game. Matt Gilks hasn't been named in their squad on this occasion and there is still no place in Gordon Strachan's squad for either of Scott Arfield or George Boyd.