Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has announced his final 23-man squad for UEFA EURO 2016, with Wigan striker Will Grigg and MK Dons full-back Lee Hodson both getting the nod.
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Samson Siasia was shorn of a number of key first-team players for the game, with Victor Moses having asked to be left out due to fitness worries and captain John Obi Mikel joining Ahmed Musa for former defender Joseph Yobo’s testimonial match.
The latter was a key part of the side in qualifying, scoring seven goals to ensure Northern Ireland finished top of Group F by one point from Romania in second. I think they did that’.
Next Saturday Northern Ireland face Slovakia in Antona Malatinského Stadium, in Trnava, in what will be their final game before their Euro opener against Poland, in Nice, on Sunday June 12.
“I’ve spoken individually to all the players”.
‘It was flawless for the two lads to score in the first half. Then he stepped on to the pitch last night and scored again.
‘I felt when I took the job he was a player that had real capability to push on and become a key player.
The home fans were already in party mode even before the game got started and within six minutes Lafferty gave them further cause for celebration on his 50th appearance for his country. He had a great season for his club, is going to the Championship and hopefully he can continue.
The game was the last before boss Michael O’Neill trims his final squad to 23 today and Liam Boyce, Daniel Lafferty, Billy McKay, Ben Reeves and Michael Smith are set to miss out.
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“It was great to see Will [Grigg] get on the scoresheet too”.
