O’Neill hails Well keeper
NORTHERN IRELAND manager Michael O’Neill insists Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson more than deserves his international recall.
And O’Neill has also tipped Celtic shot-stopper Conor Hazard to have a bright future after listing the 20-year-old in the full squad for the first time ahead of March 24 friendly against South Korea at Windsor Park.
The pair are joined in the 24-man pool by Rangers defender Lee Hodson, Aberdeen winger Niall McGinn, Hearts pair Aaron Hughes and Kyle Lafferty and Jordan Jones of Kilmarnock.
Motherwell keeper Carson was has been overlooked for then national team since being called-up for a clash against Romania in 2015 but O’Neill admits he is well aware that the 30-year-old is enjoying a rich vein of form after moving to Fir Park from Hartlepool last summer.
O’Neill said: “Trevor Carson is not 100 per cent new, he’s been in in the past. He’s having a great season for Motherwell. He was linked with a move in the January window to Celtic, and I think he’s waited a long time for his chance to be part of the squad and he has certainly earned that chance.
“I watched him against Hearts recently in the Scottish Cup and he had a great game.”
O’Neill has also called up Hazard for the first time, with the 6ft 6in youngster having played five games for Falkirk since joining on loan from the Hoops in January.
O’Neill added: “Conor Hazard is a goalkeeper that we have high hopes for. He’s on l oan at Falkirk from Celtic.
“He trained with the senior squad last June. We have three young keepers in Hazard, [Conor] Mitchell and Bailey [Peacock-Farrell].
“The three will be rotated and managed between the Under-21s and senior side going forward.”