Sanchez: I'll pick Whitley
Incoming Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez revealed at the weekend that he intends to pick Sunderland's Jeff Whitley for the squad to face Norway in a friendly on February 18.
The squad will be confirmed officially on the morning of Tuesday 10th February, but Sanchez made his plan public on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier that morning he'd made an appearance on Sky Sports' "Soccer AM" at the station's west London studios, then travelled to Milton Keynes to watch his old club Wimbledon take on Norwich.
Sanchez also intends to revive the international career of Nottingham Forest's Danny Sonner, and told the Belfast Telegraph, "Yes, Sonner and Whitley will be in my squad - but that's about all the surprises there will be.
"I've only been in the job two weeks so I haven't been able to do a lot of work trying to find new players. It will be made up of players who were part of the qualifying series for the European Championships.
"I've watched a few players during the past two weeks and I decided to go to Milton Keynes because there was a chance I would be able to see three Northern Ireland players in action."
The news that Whitley's international career was about to be revived came shortly before today's announcement from the FAI that Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has selected Jason McAteer for his squad to face Brazil, also on February 18.
McAteer has missed 13 internationals since limping off the pitch when Ireland lost to Russia in September 2002. Kerr said "He's never been available for games since I’ve been in because of injury but he’s been in the side at Sunderland recently and is doing well.
"We’ve chopped and changed a lot there and Jason was Mick’s regular there so we can see how he’s doing."
McAteer is Sunderland's sole representative in the RoI squad, with Colin Healy a long-term absentee and Gary Breen short of match fitness.
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HACKWATCH: Glory Hornet Boys 2, Lads 2
OPPO: Watford FC
VENUE: Vicarage Road
RESULT: Glory Hornet Boys 2, Lads 2
TEAM: Poom; Babb, Bjorklund, McCartney, Wright; Arca, Thirlwell (Byfield 59), McAteer, Whitley; Smith (Stewart 59), Kyle
SUBS NOT USED: Alnwick, Oster, Williams
USELESS WINKER IN BLACK: Lee Probert
ATTENDANCE: 16798
MCCARTHY’S COMMENTS
"They worked hard and stopped us having any shots on target, which you have to credit them for. Watford posed a threat going forward getting behind us with their pace.
"It looked like being that kind of game, but then we got a well-worked goal from a corner and earned the point in the last 15-20 minutes.
"We worked hard and it was great to see Byfield get a goal on his debut. In the end we could have got all three points. It's great when you put two players on and they both score!
"It wasn't a penalty. I might not have had the best of views from where I was but I didn't even think it was a foul and I could tell from my players' reaction that it certainly wasn't a penalty.
"They're a good bunch of lads, really, and when they get that incensed they must think there's been a real injustice. I've been told it wasn't a penalty by some of their players, too.
"After that we lost the plot for a bit. We were slashing at things because we were angry but we got back into it and it's another point for us."
SAFC OFFICIAL SITE
The Black Cats were 2-0 down and heading for a second successive league defeat when Mick McCarthy made a double substitution, throwing three up front and it paid dividends.
Sloppy defending allowed the Hornets to take the lead early on.
Sunderland caused Watford problems right from the start but it was a false dawn for the away side.
They tried to pass the ball around on a poor Vicarage Road pitch and made all the early play, but were poor at the back and went behind against the run of play, in the sixth minute.
Sunderland enjoyed 70 per cent of the possession in the first half without creating a decent chance.
Sunderland were at sixes and sevens - especially at the back - and it was no surprise when McCarthy made a double substitution. Watford, however, continued to soak up everything the Wearsiders threw at them - and continued to create the better chances.
Babb was adjudged to have tripped Helguson inside the area and referee Lee Probert pointed straight to the spot. The replays showed that the referee had got it wrong.
The men from Wearside had only two shots on target all afternoon, although they had enjoyed long periods of possession.
WATFORD OFFICIAL SITE
After dominating for much of the game it was a bitter disappointment for the Hornets to come away with just one point.
The golden boys looked solid at the back and creative going forward for the majority of the encounter and fully deserved their 2-0 lead.
A shaky start from the Hornets saw Cox and Ardley both misplace passes, allowing the visitors to threaten, but persistent defending kept the Black Cats at bay.
Fitzgerald showed strength to out-battle Bjorklund.
The visitors pulled one back in the 76th minute when Marcus Stewart headed home from two yards after Jason McAteer’s flicked-on corner.
Then Julio Arca’s cross found Darren Byfield who mis-controlled but managed to strike home at the second time of asking.
SUNDERLAND ECHO
Lewington’s front men took advantage time and again of the long ball or chip over the top against supposedly superior opposition.
While Byfield will not be the superstar Sunderland fans have yearned for in the wake of Kevin Phillips’ departure, he may prove to be the missing link needed for the Black Cats to maintain their push in a promotion race likely to go right down to the wire.
Kyle was well-patrolled by the giant presence of rookie Jerel Ifil and his experienced partner, Sean Dyche, while Smith had a frustrating and anonymous afternoon.
Joachim Bjorklund’s challenge in the area on Scott Fitzgerald carried little conviction.
Sunderland’s efforts foundered on a solid Watford rearguard and the home team should have doubled their lead in the 13th minute.
When goalscoring chances finally did come around at the end of the first half, they were all carved out by Watford, who spurned three glorious chances to extend their lead.
McAteer looked isolated on the right; Arca had one of his least effective games of the season on the left.
Sunderland finally found their rhythm as their superior ability told. Embarrassingly, Stewart and Byfield’s goals were Sunderland’s first shots on target in the game – a pity, because the hapless Pidgeley looked there for the taking.
BBC NEWS ONLINE
Watford had shocked their high-flying visitors with a goal from Gavin Mahon.
McCarthy's promotion-chasers were rocked after just seven minutes as the home side, just a point above the relegation zone before kick-off, took the lead.
Despite enjoying the lion's share of possession, Sunderland were continually frustrated by some resolute defending.
Sunderland gave themselves hope by halving the deficit with 14 minutes remaining; Byfield then stole the headlines with his late intervention.
