Craigan set for first cap following McIlroy call

The Partick Thistle defender Stephen Craigan may win his first full Northern Ireland cap against Finland at Windsor Park.

The 26-year-old Newtonards-born player was yesterday named in Sammy McIlroy's 19-man squad for next Wednesday's friendly.

Craigan was called up for the first time last March, but played no part in the friendly with Liechtenstein. He spent five years at Motherwell before moving to Thistle in 2000, helping them win promotion to the top flight last season.

Craigan joins McIlroy's party for the warm-up match with Finland ahead of the Euro 2004 qualifiers against Armenia and Greece. McIlroy has named an experienced squad, including the likes of Gerry Taggart, Steve Lomas, Kevin Horlock and Keith Gillespie. Michael Hughes has been omitted as he has not played a competitive club match this season following a contractual dispute with Birmingham.

Northern Ireland picked up a point in their last outing against Ukraine, but the goalless draw meant they had failed to score in five outings. That burden could fall on the shoulders of the Norwich City striker Paul McVeigh, who has scored 13 goals for his club this season.