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Page last updated at 17:27 GMT, Thursday, 4 June 2009 18:27 UK

Keeper Tuffey set to start for NI

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
Italy v Northern Ireland
Venue: Pisa Date: Saturday, 6 June Kick-off: 1950 BST Coverage: Live on BBC 2 NI, updates on BBC Sport website


Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey
Jonathan Tuffey is hoping to start for Northern Ireland

Jonny Tuffey of Partick Thistle is expected to get the nod ahead of Alan Mannus to play in goals for Northern Ireland against world champions Italy.

Regular keeper Maik Taylor is one of many absentees from Nigel Worthington's squad for the Pisa friendly.

"Alan and I are fighting for that second goalkeeping position. We both want it badly and I think that makes for healthy competition," said Tuffey.

Several young players will get a chance to impress on Saturday night.

Tuffey was a regular in the Partick side that just missed out on promotion from the Scottish First Division.

The 22-year-old from Banbridge is keen to make his mark for Northern Ireland's senior side after performing well for the B team and the Under-21s.

Tuffey added: "Maik is obviously first choice and will hopefully be around for some time to come because he really is a fantastic goalkeeper.

"Despite being 38, he has the fitness of a 22-year-old. He is the ultimate professional.

"Hopefully Maik will stay fit and healthy, but if he picks up an injury I would love to be the one to step in and play."

Mannus, out of contract with Irish League club Linfield, is hoping to secure a deal with an English or Scottish club.

He is one of five Irish League players in the panel, the others being Coleraine winger Stephen Carson, Linfield midfielder Robert Garrett and Crusaders pair Colin Coates and Martin Donnelly.

Worthington has suggested one or two of them will be in his starting 11.


Northern Ireland squad: Tuffey (Partick Thistle), Mannus (Linfield); Casement (Ipswich Town), Duffy (Everton), Coates (Crusaders), McGivern (Manchester City), Johnson (Birmingham City), O'Connor (unattached), Ferguson (Newcastle United), McGinn (Celtic), McCann (Scunthorpe Utd), Evans (Manchester Utd), Carson (Coleraine), Garrett (Linfield), Little (Rangers), Healy (Sunderland), Lawrie (Port Vale), Donnelly (Crusaders).



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see also
Garrett eager to make NI impact
03 Jun 09 |  Internationals
Carson surprised after NI call-up
20 May 09 |  Internationals
Irish League quintet in NI squad
20 May 09 |  Internationals
Pisa venue for NI match in Italy
06 May 09 |  Internationals


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