ICT ace McKay nets Northern Irish call-up

RED-HOT Caley Thistle striker Billy McKay has been called into Northern Ireland's squad for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in Belfast.

The forward, signed from Northampton Town in 2011, has had a terrific start to the season for ICT, scoring six times and impressing since replacing injured skipper Richie Foran in attack in recent weeks.

The 24-year-old, who has been capped twice for his nation's under-21s, has bagged four goals in his last three games, prompting Northern Irish manager Michael O'Neill to add him to his squad tonight.

McKay joins other Scottish players Alan Mannus (St Johnstone) and Michael McGovern (Falkirk), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), Paddy McCourt (Celtic) and Rangers trio Andrew Little, Kyle Lafferty and Dean Shiels, as well as former Gers midfielder Steven Davis, now at Southampton, in the squad.

This will be a major boost to the forward, who famously scored at Anfield to knock Liverpool out of the League Cup in 2010 when he played at Northampton.

His ICT team-mate Andrew Shinnie, who has scored nine times this term, was one of the first to congratulate him when he tweeted: “big congrats to my strike partner for getting called up for Northern Ireland, well deserved.”

This news is the ideal start to McKay ahead of Saturday's noon SPL clash against crisis club Hearts in Inverness, with the hosts sitting in third spot.

McGinn scored for Northern Ireland in a 1-1 in Portugal next month, but next week's test against Azerbaijan is one they must win to stand any chance of getting into the qualification reckoning in Group F.

Russia lead the way on 12 points, Israel and Portgual have seven then Northern Ireland, with one game in hand, follow on just two points, so McKay could land a starring role if given the chance.