LET’S BE BRUNT, WE’RE ALIVE

CHRIS BRUNT insists it is premature to write off Northern Ireland’s World Cup hopes.

Michael O’neill’s men are outsiders to reach next summer’s finals in Russia following Thursday’s 1-0 defeat in Belfast.

But Brunt (inset) is confident the men in green have the belief and ability to turn the tide in tomorrow’s crucial return leg in Basel.

The West Brom defender said: “We have a mountain to climb but we’re capable of going over there and winning. It’s not something we are incapable of doing. You can’t underestimate Switzerland but we know we have to come here and score goals. Hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves and leave everything out on the pitch.

“We still have it all to play foron Sunday – we are going to have to come out and have a go.” Brunt is “gutted” Corry Evans - who picked up a yellow and was wrongly penalised for Switzerland’s winner from the spot in Belfast – is ruled out tomorrow.

He said: “Corry is an important player. Nobody in the ground thought it was a penalty. He was sat in the dressing room and I think he was frustrated at the decision. It is up to us to get a result for him.”