O'Neill updates his squad ahead of Germany qualifier

Michael O’Neill has made a couple of changes on Tuesday to his squad for the upcoming Northern Ireland fixtures – Thursday’s friendly against Luxembourg and the EURO 2020 qualifier against Germany next Monday night.

Defender Michael Smith and winger Jordan Jones have been ruled out the game games. “Michael Smith is not with us,” said O’Neill about the player who was unavailable for Hearts 2-2 draw with Hamilton Academicals at Tynecastle. 

“Unfortunately Michael’s hamstring injury means that he won’t be able to be fit for either game which is a blow.”

Meanwhile it wasn’t a good weekend for Rangers winger Jordan Jones whose team lost 2-0 in the Old Firm. 

He was sent off in the clash with Celtic and he picked up an injury as well as a red card for the challenge on Moritz Bauer.

“People will have seen the incident at the weekend so Jordan isn’t with us,” said O’Neill.

O’Neill had shuffled his squad slightly bringing in Linfield striker Shayne Lavery. He had been set to play his part in Ian Baraclough’s Northern Ireland under-21 games against Malta and Finland before getting the call up to the senior squad.

The former Everton player earns that promotion at the expense of Paul Smyth who picked up a foot injury playing with his club Wycombe Wanderers.

Lavery won his only senior cap for the North against Panama during last year’s tour of Central America. He is rewarded for his strong performances during Linfield’s excellent Europa League qualifier campaign.

He scored three goals against Azerbaijani side Qarabag – scoring in the 2-1 second leg loss and getting two goals in the first leg that the Blues won at Windsor Park 3-2.