David debuts for N. Ireland

Steve Davis was handed his first Northern Ireland cap by manager Lawrie Sanchez in tonight’s friendly against Canada at Windsor Park.

It was a chance for the Aston Villa midfielder to stake his claim to make the team to face England in the World Cup qualifier on March 26.

Davis was one of four changes to the team which drew with Austria in their last outing.

Goalkeeper Maik Taylor, Chris Baird and Tony Capaldi were recalled – while the players to miss out were Roy Carroll, Mark Clyde, Damien Johnson and Stuart Elliott.

Canada were captained by Hearts defender Kevin McKenna. Millwall duo Josh Simpson and Adrian Serioux were also included, along with Norwich’s Jim Brennan.

Northern Ireland: Taylor, Baird, Aaron Hughes, Murdock, McCartney, Gillespie, Whitley, Doherty, Davis, Capaldi, Healy.

Subs: Carroll, Smith, Kirk, Mulryne, Jones, Williams, Craigan, Clyde.

Canada: Sutton, Gervais, McKenna, Serioux, Imhof, Occean, Bernier, Brennan, Reda, De Rosario, Simpson.

Subs: Hutchinson, Hirschfeld, Peters, Klukowski, Hume, Watson.

Referee: Joseph Attard (Malta)