Worthington Names Squad For Albania

Mon, Feb 22 2010

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Following delays at Stansted this morning Nigel Worthington eventually arrived in Belfast to name his squad for the International Challenge Friendly against Albania in Tirana on March 3rd.

Taylor, Tuffey, Carson

McAuley, Evans, Craigan, McCartney, McGivern, Duffy, Little

McGinn, McCann, O'Connor, Davis, Brunt, Shiels, Johnson, Clingan

Healy, Feeney, Lafferty, Kirk, Patterson

It's a surprise not to see Martin Paterson included. Following injury for most of this season Pato made the score sheet for Burnley in yesterday's 5-2 away defeat to Villa. Instead, we see Coleraine's Rory Patterson come in with Worthington making it no secret he's a big admirer. Similarly, Michael O'Connor has been turning heads at Scunthorpe so it's fair he is included along with Dunfermline's Andy Kirk and Doncaster's Dean Shiels. Everton's Shane Duffy has rejected his call up opting to play for the Republic. His loss. Steve Jones, leading scorer at Walsall, has been overlooked again. Fulham's Chris Baird and Aaron Hughes have not been included due to their committments in the Europa League.

Despite a long hard struggle, David Healy does find himself in the squad. He will certainly not want a repeat at Portman Road of his Sunderland nightmare, as he found himself back in familiar territory as an unused substitute in Saturdays away win at Sheffield Wednesday.

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