Football O'Neill pleased to have 'big character' Magennis back

MICHAEL O'Neill believes Josh Magennis can bring leadership on and off the pitch on his return to the Northern Ireland squad.

- Ian PARKER

Magennis’s first international call-up since last November is one of several changes to O’Neill’s squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Germany, with Daniel Ballard, Brodie Spencer, Conor Hazard and Ciaron Brown all back following injury.

Magennis, 35, has 12 international goals in 82 appearances but was left out in March as O'Neill looked at younger options, then missed out in June and September following hip surgery.

After starting this campaign with four goals in 10 for Exeter, the hugely experienced forward has earned his recall.

“Josh brings not only experience but also physicality which I think we need, particularly when you look at the physicality of the Germany and the Slovakia teams,” O'Neill told the PA news agency.