Gillespie not on scrap-heap

Winger Keith Gillespie was today included in the Northern Ireland squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden.

The 32-year-old, who was fined after a confrontation with team-mate George McCartney on the plane as they returned from last month’s defeat in Iceland, was named in a 19-man party despite missing his club’s weekend clash at Bristol City with a hamstring injury.

McCartney is also included, as is Luton midfielder Stephen Robinson, who won the last of his six senior caps against Azerbaijan in 2005.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Maik Taylor (Birmingham), Alan Mannus (Linfield), Michael McGovern (Celtic). Defenders: Stephen Craigan (Motherwell), Tony Capaldi (Cardiff), George McCartney (West Ham), Aaron Hughes (Fulham), Jonny Evans (Manchester United), Gareth McAuley (Leicester). Midfielders: Keith Gillespie (Sheffield United), Steven Davis (Fulham), Sammy Clingan (Nottingham Forest), Grant McCann (Barnsley), Chris Brunt (West Brom), Stephen Robinson (Luton Town), Steve Jones (Burnley). Strikers: David Healy (Fulham), Kyle Lafferty (Burnley), Ivan Sproule (Bristol City).