Four Scots Premiership stars in Northern Ireland Euro squad

Ross County's Liam Boyce and Billy McKay, who played on loan for Dundee United, have been left out of Northern Ireland's 23-man Euro 2016 squad by manager Michael O'Neill.
Northern Ireland players acknowledge the crowd following the win over Belarus on Friday. Picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty ImagesNorthern Ireland players acknowledge the crowd following the win over Belarus on Friday. Picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Northern Ireland players acknowledge the crowd following the win over Belarus on Friday. Picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

But there are places for a quartet of Scottish Premiership players, with goalkeepers Michael McGovern of Hamilton and Alan Mannus of St Johnstone both selected alongside’s Aberdeen’s attacking midfielder Niall McGinn and Kilmarnock striker Josh Magennis.

There is also a place in the squad for MK Dons’ Lee Hodson, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Killie.

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The announcement for the country’s first finals squad in 30 years was made at the Titanic Belfast museum on Saturday lunchtime, though the unlucky players who missed out were informed of their fate earlier this week and missed Friday’s 3-0 victory over Belarus despite being named in the 28-player group for that game.

Will Grigg, whose 25 goals fired Wigan to the Sky Bet League One title, opened his international account in that triumph and has earned the nod over Wigan team-mate McKay and Boyce, despite the latter scoring 20 times for Ross County last term.

QPR’s Conor Washington has been included having scored twice in his three caps to date while Aaron Hughes, 36, will arrive in France with a century of international appearances should he feature in Slovakia next week.