World Cup 2022: Shayne Lavery replaces injured Conor Washington in NI squad for qualifiers
- Published
Lavery has five NI caps to his name
Linfield striker Shayne Lavery has replaced the injured Conor Washington in Northern Ireland's squad for the start of the World Cup qualifiers.
Washington picked up an injury while playing for Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
Lavery, who has five NI caps, is the Irish Premiership's top scorer this season with 19 goals for the Blues.
Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough has also added uncapped goalkeeper Liam Hughes to his squad.
It is a first senior call-up for 19-year-old Hughes, who joined Liverpool from Celtic in January.
"Liam has had an unbelievable year - going from Celtic to Liverpool and having been sat on the bench for Liverpool for one of their games," said Baraclough.
"He has to take his chances when they come and this is a great experience for him.
"He'll be with the squad for 10 days, for the full duration. He wants to learn and the only way of doing that is being with the big boys."
Northern Ireland start their qualifying campaign against Italy in Parma on Thursday before taking on the USA in a Windsor Park friendly three days later.
Bulgaria are the visitors to Belfast on 31 March for Northern Ireland's second qualifier in Group C.
Lavery, who played under Baraclough for the NI Under-21s, made his Northern Ireland debut in in May 2018.
The in-form Linfield frontman - who has eight goals in his last five games for the Irish League pacesetters - is one of six forwards in Baraclough's panel, joining Accrington Stanley striker Dion Charles, who was called up for the first time after scoring 17 goals for the League One side this season.
"Conor was having a scan at his club on Monday, we fear the worst for him, so we brought Shayne in," explained Baraclough.
"Shayne is hitting the back of the net regularly and comes straight in for him. He's got the tools to go back to England or Scotland and that adds to the firepower we have already got in the squad."
Kyle Lafferty, Josh Magennis, Liam Boyce and Gavin Whyte are also attacking options for Baraclough.
Northern Ireland squad:
Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Burnley), Conor Hazard (Celtic), Nathan Gartside (Derry City), Liam Hughes (Liverpool).
Defenders: Jonny Evans (Leicester City), Craig Cathcart (Watford), Stuart Dallas (Leeds United), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Conor McLaughlin (Sunderland), Jamal Lewis (Newcastle United), Daniel Ballard (Blackpool - on loan from Arsenal), Ciaron Brown (Cardiff City).
Midfielders: Steven Davis (Rangers), Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers), Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough), George Saville (Middlesbrough), Michael Smith (Heart of Midlothian), Matthew Kennedy (Aberdeen), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), Alistair McCann (St Johnstone).
Strikers: Kyle Lafferty (Kilmarnock), Josh Magennis (Hull City), Shayne Lavery (Linfield), Liam Boyce (Heart of Midlothian), Gavin Whyte (Hull City - on loan from Cardiff City), Dion Charles (Accrington Stanley).