Craig Cathcart is named in Northern Ireland's squad for the opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovenia but there is no place for Pat McCourt.

Cathcart, who recently moved to Blackpool from Manchester United, has been named in previous Northern Ireland squads but has yet to earn a full cap.

McCourt is left out for the 3 September game despite being in goal-scoring form for Celtic in recent weeks.

Corry Evans joins his brother and club-mate Jonny in the squad.

The younger Evans has played in recent friendlies but has yet to feature in a competitive first-team game for the Old Trafford club.

606: DEBATE Ivan Sproule hs been playing regularly for Championship side Bristol City so why has Worthington not included him in NI squad? yerman82

McCourt is a hugely talented footballer but criticisms of his work-rate have led to him being described as a "luxury player" by some commentators.

The Celtic player's club-mate Niall McGinn and Sunderland's George McCartney are both unavailable for the game in Maribor because of injury.

Wolves youngster Jonny Gorman also retains his place after being included in the squad for the summer tour and the friendly against Montenegro.

Gorman, who is still at school, is still to appear for the Wolves first team.

Fulham defender and squad captain Aaron Hughes returns after injury.

However, Andrew Little and Ryan McGivern have been left out after being included in the squad for the recent friendly against Montenegro.

For players to miss games through indiscipline, that's something I can't live with Nigel Worthington

Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington defended his decision to again omit McCourt.

"Paddy is a wonderful footballer. On the ball he can do this, that and the other and I've spoken to Paddy, so he knows what he needs to do," added the Northern Ireland manager.

"Great Northern Ireland players such as (George) Best, (Norman) Whiteside, (Gerry) Armstrong...they have all worked very hard with the ball and without (the ball).

"With all the craft that Paddy has, if he can get the graft side, the work ethic, what a great player he would be for us."

Worthington insisted that the Northern Ireland squad includes "five or six players capable of scoring outstanding goals".

Asked about Kyle Lafferty's weekend sending-off for Rangers, which came after a silly booking in the recent friendly against Montenegro, Worthington said that he would "not tolerate indiscipline".

"We must have a full complement of players. For players to miss games through indiscipline, that's something I can't live with."

Northern Ireland squad: Taylor (Birmingham), Tuffey (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Blayney (Linfield), J Evans (Man Utd), Craigan (Motherwell), Cathcart (Blackpool), McAuley (Ipswich), Hughes (Fulham), Baird (Fulham), McCann (Peterborough), Brunt (West Brom), Gorman (Wolves), C Evans (Man Utd), Davis (Rangers), Clingan (Coventry), Healy (Sunderland), Feeney (Oldham), Lafferty (Rangers), Paterson (Burnley), Patterson (Plymouth).

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version