Ten new faces in Northern Ireland squad

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has named 10 uncapped players in his squad for next month's friendly in Italy.

Ten new faces in Northern Ireland squad

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has named 10 uncapped players in his squad for next month's friendly in Italy.

Worthington is missing a host of experienced players for the June 6 match in Pisa and a further six of his 19-man party have won just five caps or less.

The only senior faces to travel will be record goalscorer David Healy, Birmingham's Damien Johnson and Grant McCann of Scunthorpe.

Among the new names are 18-year-old midfielder Corry Evans, the younger brother of Manchester United team-mate Jonny.

Crusaders captain Colin Coates is given a chance along with club-mate Martin Donnelly while Linfield's Robert Garrett and Stephen Carson of Coleraine add further Irish Premier League representation.

Craig Cathcart, Chris Casement, Shane Duffy, Shane Ferguson and James Lawrie will also be hoping to win their first caps.

Among the players missing from the squad is Chris Brunt, who is due to get married on the day of the match.

The selection of one of the few senior men involved, McCann, has also been problematic due to a clash with a coaching course organised by the Irish Football Association.

McCann is taking his UEFA A Licence course but has been cleared to travel.

Healy will lead the line against the world champions after a disappointing season for Sunderland which has yielded just three goals.

Northern Ireland currently top World Cup qualifying group three after back-to-back wins over Poland and Slovenia in March and April.

Northern Ireland squad to play Italy in an international friendly in Pisa on June 6: Tuffey (Partick), Mannus (Linfield), Cathcart (Man Utd), Casement (Ipswich), Duffy (Everton), Coates (Crusaders), McGivern (Man City), Johnson (Birmingham), O'Connor (Crewe), Ferguson (Newcastle), McGinn (Celtic), McCann (Scunthorpe), Evans (Man Utd), Carson (Coleraine), Garrett (Linfield), Little (Rangers), Healy (Sunderland), Lawrie (Port Vale), Donnelly (Crusaders).

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