Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough has played down suggestions he was on the cusp of handing prolific Glentoran striker Jay Donnelly an international call-up.
Donnelly, who has scored 25 goals in all competitions for the East Belfast club this season, has been in the form of his life in recent months.
And four weeks ago Baraclough appeared to open the door for the 26-year-old when he was asked by reporters if the Irish League’s top scorer was on his radar.
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At the time the national boss said “everyone is in the equation” for selection and hailed the former Clifonville forward’s ability to “stick the ball in the back of the net”.
But a month later, Donnelly isn’t in his squad to face Luxembourg and Hungary and Baraclough has played down recent speculation as little more than media hype.
Asked about Donnelly’s absence from his latest 25-man panel, he said: “That was media speculation that he was close to getting a call up, not me.
“I said the door isn't closed on anybody. That's where it was. Everyone is in contention. If they pledge their allegiance to Northern Ireland then I can't ignore anybody.”
Baraclough has also overlooked Kilmarnock striker Kyle Lafferty who has scored five goals in eight games since turning to Rugby Park from Anorthosis in January.
The 34-year-old, who has won 85 caps since making his debut in 2006, last featured for Northern Ireland in a 1-0 friendly win over Estonia in Tallinn in September.
“I don’t think they (Lafferty and Donnelly) are ahead of the strikers we have selected at the moment,” said Baraclough.
“It is pleasing to see Kyle come back and play games with Kilmarnock. I was up in Scotland a couple of weeks ago and myself and Jimmy Nicholl went to watch a game there.
“But I think that the strikers we have gone with and selected in this squad are ahead of those that you mentioned.”
Baraclough's striking options include Blackpool striker Shayne Lavery, Wigan Athletic's Josh Magennis and Bolton Wanderers new boy Dion Charles.
Northern face a friendly double header this month, starting in Luxembourg on March 25 followed by a home fixture with Hungary on March 29.
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