TAKE MY LEAD FROM THE BRUNT

MICHAEL O’neill says it would be a “huge positive” if Chris Brunt opts to stay on for the Euro 2020 qualifiers.

The 65-times capped West Brom midfielder is a high profile absentee from Northern Ireland’s squad for next week’s friendly with South Korea in Belfast.

But while Brunt continues to mull over his international future, O’neill hopes the

33-year-old (right) decides to stay on board for another campaign.

He said: “Chris is so valuable to us – when he’s not in the squad you always feel there’s something missing. Not having Chris at Euro 2016 was a massive blow to us. “It basically took away the left hand side of our team. Not having him in France, his set-piece delivery and quality of his game was a huge blow. “I’ve told Chris, it would be a huge positive for me if he decides to play on, but equally if he doesn’t I fully respect any decision he makes.” O’neill, who has added Norwich City defender Jamal Lewis and Celtic keeper Conor Hazard to his panel, is keeping an eye on Huddersfield winger Sean Scannell and Rangers midfielder Sean Goss. Scannell – who represented the Republic at underage level – is injured and Goss is pondering his options.