Lafferty recalled by Northern Ireland after apology

The 31-year-old withdrew from the UEFA Nations League double-header against Austria and Bosnia in October at midnight the day before the squad was due to meet up, leaving manager Michael O'Neill furious.

Lafferty claimed to be suffering form an achilles injury, with the IFA then stepping in by invoking FIFA's five-day rule to prevent him from playing for Rangers against Hamilton the following weekend.

However, O'Neill has now welcomed him back into the reckoning as part of a 28-man squad, though he may yet not be fit to feature due to a quad muscle issue.

"I spoke to Kyle on the phone and in person in Glasgow. I also spoke to Steven Gerrard (Rangers manager)," said O'Neill.

"It's good to have him back in. He has an injury concern, so his availability is contingent on how he comes through the weekend."

The Northern Ireland squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Michael McGovern (Norwich City), Trevor Carson (Motherwell), Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Leeds United), Conor Hazard (Celtic).

Defenders: Aaron Hughes (Hearts), Gareth McAuley (Glasgow Rangers), Jonathan Evans (Leicester City), Craig Cathcart (Watford), Conor McLaughlin (Millwall), Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough), Jamal Lewis (Norwich City), Michael Smith (Hearts), Tom Flanagan (Sunderland).

Midfielders: Steven Davis (Southampton), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Stuart Dallas (Leeds United), George Saville (Middlesbrough, loan), Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock), Gavin Whyte (Oxford United), Jordan Thompson (Blackpool).

Forwards: Kyle Lafferty (Rangers), Josh Magennis (Bolton Wanderers), Jamie Ward (Charlton Athletic, loan), Liam Boyce (Burton Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Kyle Vassell (Rotherham United).