Michael O Neill hopes Paddy McCourt can repeat his last performance against Faroe Islands for Northern Ireland when they meet on Saturday.
McCourt s previous competitive appearance for his country came in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Israel in March 2013.
The 30-year-old Brighton and Hove Albion winger put in a stunning display when Northern Ireland last faced the Faroes, scoring twice and laying on another goal in a 4-0 Euro 2012 qualifying win back in August 2011.
And O Neill believes McCourt could be a useful weapon in their Euro 2016 Group F qualifier at Windsor Park this weekend.
Paddy s previous against them has to come into the thinking given the nature of the game we re expecting, he said.
The Faroes will try to be hard to break …
Portuguese media outlet that Schalke and Rennes are among clubs showing interest in Sporting Lisbon starlet Andre Carrillo.
The Bundesliga side were alerted of the talented forward some two years ago and they have since closely monitored his performances.
According to the latest reports, Schalke are expected to step up their interest either in January or at the end of the season.
The Miners could face stiff competition from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, who are also believed to be keen on Carrillo s services.
The Peruvian forward has been showing a great deal of potential ever since he joined from Alianza Lima in the summer of 2011, and he seems to have finally established himself as an undisputed starter at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Carrillo, 23, has fea…
Liverpool have completed the signing of England s Under-20 World Cup star Dominic Solanke.
The 19-year-old has finalised his move to Anfield after leaving Chelsea at the end of his contract.
Solanke, who initially agreed to join Liverpool in May, could reportedly cost the Reds up to £10million in compensation because he is under the age of 24.
It feels amazing and everyone has made me feel welcome already, he told the club s official website.
Even just pulling on the training top, I was over the moon. Hopefully I can put on the shirt in the near future and make some good history here.
Solanke was named the player of the tournament after scoring four goals to help England U20s to their world title triumph in South Korea last month.
A pr…
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku believes he is the best in the world as Manchester City s Vincent Kompany heaped praise on the Belgian star.
Lukaku swapped Everton for Premier League giants United in a deal reportedly worth £75million and the 24-year-old is already off the mark for his new club – scoring in the 2-1 pre-season win over Real Salt Lake on Monday.
The Belgium international, who moved to Everton on a permanent basis in 2014, netted 25 Premier League goals last season to finish runner-up to Golden Boot winner Harry Kane.
And 31-year-old countryman Kompany lauded Lukaku s incredible desire to succeed, having monitored his progress from his early days at Belgian side Anderlecht.
I want him to do well except for in a few games this sea…
How on earth would Atletico Madrid stem the rolling relentless red wave without being swept away?
On the other hand, how would Liverpool break down the most stubborn opponents of this European era, who had shoved the hardest of all noses in front in this last-16 tie?
There was no need to mention that 19 of the Reds wins in all competitions this season have come by a solitary goal. Or, for that matter, to note Atleti s solitary clean sheet in their past five matches came in the initial encounter.
This Herculean, knife-edge tie was one played out somewhere in the deceptive gap between reality and reputation. Whose bluff would hold, who would blink with it all on the line?
For all the thoughts Atletico would come and shut up shop, they arguably should have e…
Marko Grujic hopes to discuss his Liverpool future in the coming months having admitted it is difficult to make the breakthrough at Anfield.
The Serbian midfielder, who turns 24 next week, is currently on his second season-long loan spell with Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin.
Prior to that, he spent time with Cardiff City in the Championship and it has been over two years since he made a Premier League appearance for Liverpool.
Grujic is under contract until 2023 but his lack of first-team opportunities under Jurgen Klopp means he knows he must consider his next step carefully.
I hope that [talks] will happen in the next few months, he told The Athletic.
I m sure we will sit down and discuss what is best for the club and what is best for me.
…
Leeds boss Daniel Farke revealed several of his players had been struggling during his side’s 3-1 win against Hull, which lifted them back into the Sky Bet Championship’s automatic promotion places.
Sam Byram’s early header for Leeds was deservedly cancelled out by Hull’s on-loan Liverpool forward Fabio Carvalho and the visitors went on to out-play their hosts for long periods in the first half.
Leeds created the better chances, but failed to hit top form and breathed a sigh of relief when Crysencio Summerville converted a late penalty.
GETTTTTTT IIIIIINNNNNNN!!!! SUMMMERVILLLEEEEEEE FROM THE SPOTTTTTT!!!
— Leeds United (@LUFC)
Daniel James scored from fully 40 yards into an empty net with virtually the last kick after Hull goalkeeper …
Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse eased concerns over Liverpool star Sadio Mane following his early withdrawal against Togo, describing his injury as nothing serious .
The Reds forward was substituted after just 28 minutes on Thursday, with Villarreal striker Boulaye Dia replacing him, and Senegal needed a 93rd-minute equaliser from Habib Diallo to cancel out Pape Abou Cisse s first-half own goal and salvage a draw.
The result ended Senegal s four-game winning streak in World Cup qualifying, although they have already advanced to the next stage as Group H winners.
Mane s enforced substitution sparked worries the 29-year-old could be set for a spell on the sidelines, but his national team boss insisted the move was precautionary.
— Football (@Fo…
Newcastle United midfielder Jonas Gutierrez has urged Fabricio Coloccini to extend his stay on Tyneside.
The Magpies captain is out of contract at the end of next season and has been linked with a move away from the club, with Liverpool said to be interested earlier this campaign.
Gutierrez also praised Coloccini, who won the 2011 north-east football of the year award, and the rest of his Newcastle team-mates performances in a season which has seen them mount a serious challenge for a Champions League spot.
I am so glad that he is here with our club and yes, of course I would like him to stay and I said that to him, he told the Sunday Sun.
But all of the players are having a great season. It is not just about him we re all having a good season.
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Kaizer Chiefs boss Vladimir Vermezovic was pleased with his team for finally breaking their jinx against minor teams in the Nedbank Cup.
The Chiefs floundered against lowly opposition in this competition for the past three seasons, losing to University of Pretoria in 2008-09, then FC Cape Town, and last season Baroka.
However, on Saturday they defeated Cape Town All Stars 3-0 to book their place in the last 16 courtesy of goals from Lucky Baloyi, Lucky Khune and Lehlohonolo Majoro.
It was a very difficult game for us, especially beforehand, we knew our experience in previous few years, Vermezovic told Kickoff.com.
We lost to teams from lower division and for us it was very difficult from a physiological point of view.
We didn t know anything …