McCartney earns NI starting role

George McCartney has been out of the NI team for 26 months

N Ireland v Liechtenstein
Windsor Park, Belfast
Wednesday, 22 August
Kick-off: 1945 BST
Live coverage on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Radio Ulster MW from 1930 BST, updates on BBC Radio 5live & the BBC Sport website.

West Ham defender George McCartney will end his international exile by starting for Northern Ireland in Wednesday's Euro 2008 game against Liechtenstein.

With Jonny Evans and Tony Capaldi ruled out, McCartney will fill the left-back role at Windsor Park.

Nottingham Forest's Sammy Clingan will return to the midfield as Damien Johnson is out with a hamstring injury.

Defender Chris Baird has been given the captain's armband in the absence of his injured Fulham team-mate Aaron Hughes.

McCartney's return will end a 26-month absence as he last played for Northern Ireland in June 2005 against Germany.

Northern Ireland: Taylor, Duff, Baird, Craigan, McCartney, Gillespie, Clingan, Davis, Brunt, Healy, Lafferty.