RUSSIA v N IRELAND

Friday, 4pm – Sky Sports 1

ANDY LITTLE has begged for Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill not to ignore his Rangers scoring exploits ahead of Northern Ireland’s clash with Russia.

Little, 23, has banged in eight goals in eight games in a flying start to the campaign.

Dean Shiels and Kyle Lafferty are likely to start in attack for Northern Ireland’s first World Cup qualifier in Moscow.

The duo starred in last month’s 3-3 draw with Finland as O’Neill saw his team hit the goal trail for the first time.

Little did not even come off the bench in that game at Windsor Park.

But with Martin Paterson ruled out with a hamstring problem, Little insists his form shows he is ready to make an impact even if he is playing in the fourth tier of Scottish football.

Little said: “A goal is a goal. It’s a good habit and boosts confidence.

“Now I’m looking to score every time I take the field even though I’m playing right side midfield.

Miserable

“I was disappointed at not getting a run against Finland.

“But I appreciate how well Dean Shiels and Kyle Lafferty played.”

The Finland draw followed heavy defeats to Norway and Holland in O’Neill’s first two matches in charge.

And the new boss will be hoping for a clean slate after a miserable end to life under previous boss Nigel Worthington.

Northern Ireland started well in the last campaign with a 1-0 win in Slovenia and they followed that up with an impressive 0-0 against Italy.

But after that they could only draw in the Faroe Islands and a home win over those minnows was their only victory in Worthington’s final 13 games in charge.

As well as Paterson, Paddy McCourt and Shane Ferguson have also pulled out of the clashes with Russia and Luxembourg.