McLaughlin in Northern Ireland squad

Fleetwood Town's Conor McLaughlin battles with Walsall's Rico Henry Photographer Dave Howarth/CameraSport

McLaughlin has been called up to the Northern Ireland squad by Martin O’Neill for two friendlies over the Easter weekend.

After recovering from a twisted knee and playing the full 90 minutes of Town’s defeats at Burton and to Walsall on Tuesday night right-back McLaughlin is in the 24-man squad.

The defender has already picked up 12 caps for his country and is in contention to face Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday March 24 and Slovenia at Windsor Park on March 28.

The games are part of Northern Ireland’s preparations for this summer’s European Championships in France, where O’Neill’s men will face Poland, Ukraine and world champions Germany in the group stages.

Town’s game against Peterborough was initially scheduled for March 28 but was rearranged to April 5 due to three Posh players’ international call ups.

So McLaughlin will only miss Town’s away clash at Chesterfield on March 26.

Northern Ireland squad: Carroll, McGovern, Mannus; Hughes, McAuley, Evans, Cathcart, Hodson, McLaughlin, D Lafferty, McCullough, McNair, Smith; Davis, McGinn, Norwood, Ferguson, Dallas; K Lafferty, Ward, Magennis, McKay, Boyce, Washington.