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Linfield striker Shayne Lavery has replaced the injured Conor Washington in Northern Ireland’s squad for the start of the World Cup qualifiers.
Washington picked up an injury while playing for Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
Lavery, who has five NI caps, is the Irish Premiership’s top scorer this season with 19 goals for the Blues.
Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough has also added uncapped goalkeeper Liam Hughes to his squad.
It is a first senior call-up for 19-year-old Hughes, who joined Liverpool from Celtic in January.
Northern Ireland start their qualifying campaign against Italy in Parma on Thursday before taking on the USA in a Windsor Park friendly three days later.
Bulgaria are the visitors to Belfast on 31 March for Northern Ireland’s second qualifier in Group C.
Lavery, who played under Baraclough for the NI Under-21s, made his Northern Ireland debut in in May 2018.
The in-form Linfield frontman – who has eight goals in his last five games for the Irish League pacesetters – is one of six forwards in Baraclough’s panel, joining Accrington Stanley striker Dion Charles, who was called up for the first time after scoring 17 goals for the League One side this season.
Kyle Lafferty, Josh Magennis, Liam Boyce and Gavin Whyte are also attacking options for Baraclough.
Northern Ireland squad:
Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Burnley), Conor Hazard (Celtic), Nathan Gartside (Derry City), Liam Hughes (Liverpool).
Defenders: Jonny Evans (Leicester City), Craig Cathcart (Watford), Stuart Dallas (Leeds United), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Conor McLaughlin (Sunderland), Jamal Lewis (Newcastle United), Daniel Ballard (Blackpool – on loan from Arsenal), Ciaron Brown (Cardiff City).
Midfielders: Steven Davis (Rangers), Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers), Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough), George Saville (Middlesbrough), Michael Smith (Heart of Midlothian), Matthew Kennedy (Aberdeen), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), Alistair McCann (St Johnstone).
Strikers: Kyle Lafferty (Kilmarnock), Josh Magennis (Hull City), Shayne Lavery (Linfield), Liam Boyce (Heart of Midlothian), Gavin Whyte (Hull City – on loan from Cardiff City), Dion Charles (Accrington Stanley).
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