N Ireland manager backs McGivern

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has kept faith in Ryan McGivern for the World Cup qualifiers next month.

The 18-year-old Manchester City full-back was sent off on his debut last week in the friendly against Scotland.

Worthington, however, took issue with the referee over his decision and had no hesitation in naming McGivern in a 22-man squad for the matches against Slovakia on September 6 and the Czech Republic four days later.

Skipper Aaron Hughes, Keith Gillespie, Kyle Lafferty, George McCartney and Peter Thompson are all included after missing the 0-0 draw at Hampden Park through either injury or illness.

Partick goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey, who has played at under-21 level, is also called up for the first time.

They open their back-to-back qualifiers in Bratislava before facing the Czech Republic at Windsor Park.