Brunt’s delight on NI return

Chris Brunt. CHRIS BRUNT’S return to the international scene after 13 months was virtually perfect as he starred in Northern Ireland’s 4-0 triumph over Azerbaijan in Belfast.

Knee ligament damage had restricted West Brom’s Brunt, 31, to a watching brief at Euro 2016 but he made up for lost time with a fine performance as Michael O’Neill’s men moved second in their group.

Brunt defied an early head injury and demonstrated his brilliance from set-piece situations by delivering the ball which Gareth McAuley nodded home, and he was credited with rounding off the night by scoring the fourth, though Steven Davis may have got a decisive touch.

Either way, Brunt was delighted to mark his Northern Ireland return with a convincing victory over a nation that hadn’t conceded in their previous three qualifiers.

“It couldn’t have gone much better,” he said. “The result was the important thing.

“I’ve played a few games for West Brom over the last weeks.

“I played the whole game and was a bit tired towards the end but that is to be expected. To be involved in a couple of goals just made the night for me.”

Whether he can stake a claim to the fourth goal remains uncertain, though Brunt is happy for others to decide if he should be credited with his second international goal, and his first in seven years.

“I’m not too sure what actually happened,” he said.

“I thought it hit off Davo so it was his goal. But if he is giving it to me, then I’ll take it. It doesn’t matter who scores the goals, it’s just important we win.

“The shot was on target so that was the main thing from my point of view. I’m sure it will be debated on TV and the pundits will decide.

“But the important thing is it went in and killed them off.”

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