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Gareth Fullerton

Northern Ireland squad update: Kyle Lafferty and Mark Sykes added to panel

Sarpsborg 08 striker Kyle Lafferty and Oxford United midfielder Mark Sykes have been called up to Northern Ireland 's squad for the upcoming games against Luxembourg and Germany.

The pair has been called into Michael O'Neill's panel following a number of withdrawals due to injury.

Paul Smyth, Michael Smith and Jordan Jones have all been forced to pull out, while there is also a concern over Liam Boyce.

The two latest arrivals join Shayne Lavery in being added to the squad.

Lafferty, Northern Ireland's second top scorer, recently joined Norwegian outfit Sarpsborg 08.

He was sent off on his debut on Sunday after picking up two bookings in the 2-2 draw with Viking.

It was the 31-year-old's first football in several weeks after he was released by Rangers in the summer.

Northern Ireland's Mark Sykes (Presseye)

Lafferty will fly in from Norway this evening and Sykes will also link up with the squad today.

Speaking to the Oxford United website, former Glenavon man Sykes said: “I am always very proud to represent my country and I’m looking forward to it."

Despite recently being made available to other clubs for a potential loan move, Sykes featured for Oxford in Tuesday night's EFL Trophy win over Norwich U21s.

Oxford boss Karl Robinson recently said: “Sykesy needs to go and play some minutes.

“I think while we have all these players at the moment there’s no point having an investment being a substitute. We feel playing in League Two hopefully will allow us to grow that and hopefully bring him back in January to fight for his place."

Northern Ireland face Luxembourg in a friendly at Windsor Park on Thursday before the visit of Germany next Monday night for a crunch Euro 2020 qualifier.

Updated Northern Ireland squad

Goalkeepers:  Michael McGovern, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Trevor Carson

Defenders:  Jonny Evans, Craig Cathcart, Conor McLaughlin, Jamal Lewis, Tom Flanagan, Callum Norris

Midfielders:  Steven Davis, Niall McGinn, Corry Evans, Shane Ferguson, Stuart Dallas, Paddy McNair, George Saville, Mark Sykes, Gavin Whyte, Jordan Thompson, Liam Donnelly

Forwards:  Josh Magennis, Conor Washington, Liam Boyce, Shayne Lavery, Kyle Lafferty.

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