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Belfast Live

Sport

Gareth Fullerton

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

Michael ONeill NI (Organization) Euro Aaron Hughes Alan Mannus Corry Evans David Healy Grant McCann Jonny Evans Lee Camp

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.

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.

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.