Birmingham Post

O’Neill says the end is NI for Brunt

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ALBION stalwart Chris Brunt is taking an indefinite break from internatio­nal duty, Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill has revealed.

The 33-year-old midfielder, who has won 65 caps for his country, was not included in the squad for the friendly with Sou th Korea on March 24.

“Brunt is taking a break from internatio­nal football,” O’Neill said. “Me and Chris will continue to talk and in September we will see where he is at.”

Brunt is weighing up his internatio­nal future after being left heartbroke­n by Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off defeat to Switzerlan­d in November last year.

He also missed Euro 2016 with a knee injury and is unsure whether to commit to another two-year qualificat­ion campaign.

His Albion team-mates Gareth McAuley and Jonny Evans, who missed the defeat to Leicester City on Saturday through illness, have been named in the squad.

McAuley, 38, decided to keep playing for his country when O’Neill signed a new contract earlier this year.

New Scotland boss Alex McLeish has named Albion winger Matt Phillips in the squad for the upcoming games against Costa Rica and Hungary.

Phillips has struggled to reach the heights of his maiden campaign with the Baggies but McLeish has shown faith in the 26-year-old, who has scored only once in the Premier League this season.

Winger Oliver Burke is not part of McLeish’s first squad since taking on the Scotland job last month.

James Morrison has not featured for Albion since suffering an Achilles injury during Scotland’s 1-0 win over Slovakia in October.

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Chris Brunt is consoled after failing to win World Cup play-off
> Chris Brunt is consoled after failing to win World Cup play-off

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