Tuesday, September 29, 2009

McCourt handed N Ireland call-up

Pat McCourt
Pat McCourt scored in Celtic's last two matches

Pat McCourt's good form for Celtic has earned him a call-up to the Northern Ireland panel for the final World Cup qualifier away to the Czech Republic.

The former Derry City man has scored in Celtic's last two matches, the second a fine individual effort at St Mirren.

With Burnley striker Martin Paterson ruled out because of injury, Warren Feeney returns after a hip problem.

Rangers front man Kyle Lafferty, who missed the home defeat by Slovakia, is also back in Nigel Worthington's squad.

Although qualification is still mathematically possible, that 2-0 defeat at Windsor Park effectively killed off Northern Ireland's hopes of reaching the 2010 finals in South Africa.


Northern Ireland squad: Taylor (Birmingham City), Mannus (Shamrock Rovers), Tuffey (Partick Thistle); Craigan (Motherwell), Hughes (Fulham), McAuley (Ipswich Town), Baird (Fulham), Evans (Manchester United), McCartney (Sunderland), Coates (Crusaders); McCann (Scunthorpe United), Brunt (West Bromwich Albion), McGinn (Celtic), Clingan (Coventry City), Johnson (Birmingham City), Davis (Rangers), McCourt (Celtic); Healy (Sunderland), Little (Rangers), Lafferty (Rangers), Feeney (Cardiff City).

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