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Veteran Josh Magennis earns recall to Northern Ireland squad

Josh Magennis has not been involved at international level since November 2024
Josh Magennis has not been involved at international level since November 2024

Josh Magennis has earned a recall for Northern Ireland's squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Germany while Michael O'Neill has welcomed several players back from injury.

Daniel Ballard, Conor Hazard, Ciaron Brown and Brodie Spencer are all back after missing last month's 3-1 win in Luxembourg and the 3-1 defeat to Germany in Cologne.

O'Neill has named a 27-man squad which also includes a recall for winger Ross McCausland, who has impressed at Cypriot side Aris Limassol since joining on loan from Rangers, among several changes.

The return of Magennis is the most eye-catching. The 35-year-old, who has 12 international goals in 82 appearances, has not featured in O'Neill's squad since November 2024 but is back after starting the season with four goals in 10 for Exeter.

Ballard missed the September games with a groin injury suffered in Sunderland's 2-0 loss to Burnley at the end of August, but returned to action in the Black Cats' 1-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Fellow central defender Brown is also included despite not having yet played for Oxford this season following knee ligament damage, while Spencer is fit again after being forced to withdraw from last month's squad.

Ballard's inclusion means O'Neill can call upon four Premier League players, with Liverpool's Conor Bradley, Sunderland's Trai Hume and Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny all included.

Hazard's return is another significant boost to O'Neill with Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles still out with a shoulder injury.

Hazard had been missing since suffering a knee injury on international duty in June, which had left Bailey Peacock-Farrell as the only keeper with significant international experience in O'Neill's squad last month.

McCausland, whose last call-up came in March, is back after registering three goals and an assist in his first four league games for Aris Limassol.

Jamie McDonnell, who made his debut last month after a late call-up, retains his place as does the uncapped Ryan Johnson, but Ronan Hale, Dale Taylor, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Brad Lyons all miss out.
Northern Ireland will host Slovakia on October 10 before Germany visit Windsor Park three days later.

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