Kirk keeps Northern Ireland place

Dunfermline striker Andy Kirk has kept his place in the Northern Ireland squad for the friendly against Serbia at Windsor Park on 14 November.

Kirk was called in as a replacement for the final World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic and came on as a sub to win his first cap since 2006.

Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty, who had to pull out of the Prague trip, is included in the 20-man panel.

Doncaster's Dean Shiels is named but Colin Coates of Crusaders misses out.

If defender Coates had retained his place, Crusaders would have been entitled to ask for their big Carling Premiership clash with Glentoran to be postponed.

Now the clash at Seaview will definitely go ahead.

Former Hibernian player Shiels, who has eight caps but has not played for his country since a 2-0 defeat by Hungary a year ago, had been out of favour.

But he has impressed national team boss Nigel Worthington with two goals in his last three games for Doncaster.

Serbia will use the Windsor Park friendly as the start of their build-up to the World Cup finals.

They pipped France by a point to win Group Seven and secure automatic qualification.

Northern Ireland panel: Taylor (Birmingham City), Mannus (Shamrock Rovers), Tuffey (Partick Thistle); McAuley (Ipswich Town), Hughes (Fulham), Evans (Manchester United), Craigan (Motherwell), McCartney (Sunderland), Baird (Fulham); McGinn (Celtic), McCann (Scunthorpe United), O'Connor (Scunthorpe), Davis (Rangers), Brunt (West Bromwich Albion), Shiels (Doncaster Rovers), McCourt (Celtic); Healy (Sunderland), Feeney (Cardiff City), Lafferty (Rangers), Kirk (Dunfermline Athletic).

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