£1m bonus for Irish stars

Northern Ireland players will share a bonus of £1m (€1.5m) plus should they qualify for Euro 2008.

The news was announced by the Irish Football Association in the build-up to the opening qualifier against Iceland at Windsor Park tomorrow.

A statement on their website, irishfa.com, read: “IFA president Jim Boyce has announced a bonus scheme for the senior men’s squad and staff amounting to £1m (€1.5m) plus to be shared, based on qualification for the finals of the forthcoming European championships.”

Northern Ireland are anxious to get started and Steven Davis has declared himself ready for international duty .

The Aston Villa midfielder sat out the warm-up victory against Finland in Helsinki with of a thigh strain.

Davis has recovered from that setback and looks certain to face Iceland at Windsor Park.

He said: “At the time the injury was disappointing because the new manager at Villa (Martin O’Neill) had just come in.

“I only had a couple of weeks training before the season started but the manager has shown faith in me. It has been good to play in the last three games and I have got my fitness back.”

It is a new era at Villa with O’Neill taking charge of the players and Randy Lerner taking control of the club.

Davis said: “Personally things are going well. For my part, I know I just have to keep expressing myself on the pitch.”

Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez believes the player is a future captain of the national side.

Davis, however, is focusing on giving the Windsor Park crowd something to shout about.

He said: “We are moving in the right direction and people are feeling positive. There is a lot of optimism around the place but we cannot be complacent. It is important we go out and do our best on the pitch.”

With Damien Johnson sidelined through suspension, Nottingham Forest midfielder Sammy Clingan looks set to retain his place in the team after an assured display against Finland.