Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

Michael O'Neill's first Northern Ireland squad recalled as he prepares for return

Michael O'Neill will name his first squad since returning as Northern Ireland manager this Tuesday.

The international boss is preparing for a massive Euro qualifying double-header later this month.

Northern Ireland kick-off the campaign away to San Marino on March 23 followed by a home clash with Finland three days later.

Read more: Celtic fourth kit 'leaked' including tricolour collar and four-leaf clover badge

O'Neill first came into the Northern Ireland job back in 2012, and kicked off his opening reign with a 3-0 defeat to Norway in a friendly at Windsor Park.

The squad he picked for that game features several players who have disappeared off the international radar, for one reason or another.

Here's a look at the squad and what happened to them:

Goalkeepers

Lee Camp, Alan Mannus, Michael McGovern

Then Nottingham Forest keeper Camp started between the posts for O'Neill against Norway. He would make two more appearances before losing his place to Roy Carroll and never featured again. He went on to play for several clubs in a short space of time after leaving Forest in 2013.

Mannus is still playing (and starring) for Shamrock Rovers at the age of 40. He made a total of nine appearances for NI and enjoyed spells with clubs including St Johnstone and Shamrock Rovers.

McGovern became O'Neill's go-to goalkeeper and was one of the heroes from the Euro 2016 finals. Who can recall his performance against Germany?

His last appearance was against Austria in the Nations League three years ago.

Defenders

Jonny Evans, Gareth McAuley, Michael Duff, Shane Ferguson, Ryan McGivern, Aaron Hughes, Lee Hodson, Craig Cathcart

Evans, Ferguson and Cathcart remain part of the Northern Ireland set-up while Euro 2016 hero McAuley is now part of the Irish FA's underage set-up.

Former captain Hughes is technical director at the IFA while Duff - the current manager of Barnsley - won his final NI cap shortly after O'Neill's appointment.

Lee Hodson taking on Costa Rica (Presseye)

Ryan McGivern's last international cap was in a friendly against Croatia in 2016. He currently plays in the Irish League with hometown club Newry City.

Former Watford and Rangers full-back Hodson is currently on loan with Kilmarnock from Partick Thistle but hasn't featured for Northern Ireland since 2018.

Midfielders

Josh Carson, Steven Davis, Dean Shiels, Grant McCann, Sammy Clingan, Corry Evans, Niall McGinn, Paddy McCourt.

Davis, Evans and McGinn are still part of the international set-up, although all three are currently sidelined through injury.

Carson featured only twice during O'Neill's first term and currently plies his trade with Coleraine in the Irish Premiership, while former midfielder Clingan - who won his final cap in 2014 - is now a qualified firefighter.

McCourt called time on his career in 2018 and is involved with Derry City's academy.

McCann won the last of his 39 caps away to the Netherlands in 2012 and has gone on to have a successful managerial career with clubs including Peterborough, Hull City and Doncaster Rovers.

Grant McCann (Presseye)

Shiels' last NI appearance came in 2014 against Azerbaijan. He won 14 caps in total. He currently manages Irish Premiership side Dungannon Swifts and previously worked with the Northern Ireland senior women's team under his father, Kenny.

Strikers

David Healy, Warren Feeney, Josh McQuoid, Jamie Ward, Martin Paterson

Record goalscorer Healy called time on his own career in 2013 after winning 95 caps. He is currently manager of Linfield.

Feeney is a former Linfield boss who didn't feature under O'Neill and retired from full-time football in 2015.

McQuoid made his NI debut in 2010 and went on to win five caps, the last of which came in 2011 against Estonia.

Northern Ireland's David Healy (Presseye)

Ward was a popular player during the Euro 2016 campaign but dropped out of contention in 2018. He currently plays for Ilkeston Town.

Paterson scored the goal to beat Russia during O'Neill's first spell as boss, and won his last cap in 2014.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.