Updated at 13.14
19-YEAR-OLD Liverpool youngster Ryan McLaughlin has been included in the Northern Ireland squad for their upcoming games against Uruguay and Chile.
The right-back, who has yet to play competitively in Liverpool’s first team and spent the second half of this season on loan at relegated Championship side Barnsley, previously ruled himself out of consideration at international level, saying that he wanted to focus on his club career.
Reports swiftly followed suggesting that McLaughlin was set to declare for the Republic, however his inclusion in today’s squad announcement suggests he is fully committed to the North.
McLaughlin is also previously reported to have assured manager Michael O’Neill that his loyalties were with his side.
Shane Duffy, James McClean and Darron Gibson have all in the past made use of FIFA’s controversial eligibility rules to declare for the Republic ahead of the North.
NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD IN FULL:
GOALKEEPERS: Roy Carroll (Olympiacos), Michael McGovern (Falkirk), Trevor Carson (Portsmouth).
DDEFENDERS: Daniel Lafferty (Burnley), Ryan McLaughlin (Liverpool), Aaron Hughes (QPR), Luke McCullough (Doncaster), Liam Donnelly (Fulham), Chris Baird (Burnley).
MIDFIELDERS: Steven Davis (Southampton), Oliver Norwood (Huddersfield Town), Shane Ferguson (Newcastle Utd), Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers), Sammy Clingan (Kilmarnock), Jonny Steele (New York Red Bulls), Paul Paton (Dundee Utd).
FORWARDS: Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), Billy McKay (Inverness CT), Martin Paterson (Huddersfield Town), Jamie Ward (Derby County), Dean Shiels (Rangers), Josh Magennis (Aberdeen).
