Pars skipper boosted by O’Neill snub

Dunfermline captain Callum Morris admits the news that Michael O’Neill would be remaining as Northern Ireland manager was music to his ears as he targets an international recall next month.

O’Neill snubbed the advances of the SFA in favour of penning a long-term contract with his homeland.

While the decision leaves Scotland back to square one in their search for a successor to Gordon Strachan, it is a major boost to Morris, who was called up for Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Norway last October.

Although he was an unused substitute, Morris remains firmly on O’Neill’s radar and is determined to play his way into contention for their friendly against South Korea in March.

“I’m lucky enough that Michael O’Neill brought me into fold this season and the last thing you want is for another manager to come in and the uncertainty that brings,” said Morris. “I was delighted with the news.

“At least he is still there, the same faces are around and, hopefully, come the friendly I can be around the squad.

“You never know what is just around the corner. If you had told me at the start of the season that I’d be sitting on the bench against Germany in a qualifier, I would have laughed.

“You can only focus on yourself and if I can put the best possible performances in then I’d like to think I could be involved again.”

Morris also hopes to benefit from the proximity of the management team, with O’Neill based in Edinburgh, assistant Jimmy Nicholl occupying the same role at Rangers and coach Austin MacPhee acting as No 2 to Craig Levein at Hearts.

“They are all very close, which is great,” he continued. “You like to think they get to see a few of my games, and you also have the fact that a few of the other boys are getting a bit older now, so there might be an opportunity there.

“But the one thing for sure is that opportunity will only come along if I am doing well for Dunfermline.”

Callum Morris: hopes to be in the Northern Ireland squad again.