Nigel Worthington has named Fulham defenders Chris Baird and Aaron Hughes in his Northern Ireland squad for their European Championship qualifier against the Faroe Islands.
The Fulham pair missed the Carling Nations Cup summer internationals. Baird’s last game for his country was the 0-0 draw against Slovenia in March, whilst Hughes last turned out at international level in the 2-1 defeat by Serbia five days earlier. Worthington has also recalled former Fulham striker David Healy and handed a first call-up to Derry City’s James McClean.
Northern Ireland are currently second bottom of Group C with six points from five games. They are five points off second-placed Slovenia with a game in hand.
NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD: Tuffey (Inverness), Camp (Nottingham Forest), Mannus (St Johnstone); J Evans (Manchester United), McGivern (Manchester City), Cathcart (Blackpool), McAuley (West Brom), Hughes (Fulham), Hodson (Watford); Baird (Fulham), McCann (Peterborough), McGinn (Celtic, on loan at Brentford), Gorman (Wolves), C Evans (Hull), Davis (Rangers), Clingan (Coventry), McCourt (Celtic); Feeney (Oldham), McQuoid (Millwall), McClean (Derry), Healy (Rangers), Ward (Derby), Paterson (Burnley).
