Lafferty makes Northern Ireland return

Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty returns to Northern Ireland’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and San Marino next month.

Lafferty, 20, missed the two Group Three matches against Slovakia and the Czech Republic earlier this month with a back injury.

Club-mate Steve Davis is also back in the fold having had to pull out just hours before the Czech game because of personal reasons.

Manchester City’s 18-year-old full-back Ryan McGivern is the only player to miss out from Nigel Worthington’s previous squad.

Northern Ireland play Slovenia in Maribor on October 11 before returning to Windsor Park to face San Marino on October 15.