N IRELAND v AZERBAIJAN Kick-off: 1500 BST, Saturday 3rd September Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Live coverage on BBC Radio Ulster and this website Pre-match quotes

The Leeds forward proved his fitness in training after a thigh strain.

Motherwell's Stephen Craigan is expected to play alongside skipper Aaron Hughes in the centre of defence.

The midfield option is likely to be Steve Davis and Damien Johnson in the middle with Stuart Elliott and Keith Gilespie taking the wide positions.

Full-backs Chris Baird and Tony Capaldi are back after missing the 1-1 draw with Malta.

Striker Andy Smith, winger Ivan Sproule and defender Michael Duff are set for places on the bench after being drafted in by Sanchez.

It is a first call-up for Sproule, who hit the headlines after scoring a hat-trick as a substitute in Hibs' 3-0 win over Rangers at Ibrox.

The winger arrived at Easter Road from Irish League club Institute in January for a fee of �5,000. "It is starting to go well for me," Sproule said.

Sanchez's team go into the match against Azerbaijan looking to end a run of 10 games without a win, stretching back to June 2004 prior to Wednesday's match against England.

Northern Ireland squad: Taylor (Birmingham), Carroll (West Ham), Ingham (Wrexham); Hughes (Aston Villa), Murdock (Rotherham), Craigan (Motherwell), Baird (Southampton), Capaldi (Plymouth), Davis (Aston Villa), Johnson (Birmingham), Brunt (Sheff Wed), Elliott (Hull), Gillespie (Sheff Utd), Robinson (Luton); Healy (Leeds), Quinn (Peterborough), Feeney (Luton), S Jones (Crewe), Duff (Burnley), Smith (Motherwell), Sproule (Hibernian).