3 Newcastle players called up for vital internationals

There are 3 Newcastle players looking forward to some intriguing matches in the international break after getting a call-up for the final group matches.

For Scotland, Matt Ritchie joins former NUFC defender Grant Hanley in the squad.

In Group D, the Republic of Ireland have named both Ciaran Clark & Rob Elliot, as well as Daryl Murphy who is now at Forest.

Republic of Ireland squad:

Goalkeepers: Randolph (Middlesbrough), Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Elliot (Newcastle), Doyle (Bradford)

Defenders: Christie (Middlesbrough), Keogh (Derby), Duffy (Brighton), Clark (Newcastle), O’Shea (Sunderland), Long (Burnley), Ward (Burnley)

Midfielders: McGeady (Sunderland), McClean (West Brom – suspended for Moldova game), Whelan (Aston Villa), Hourihane (Aston Villa), Hendrick (Burnley), Brady (Burnley – suspended for Moldova game), McCarthy (Everton), Meyler (Hull), Arter (Bournemouth), O’Kane (Leeds), Hoolahan (Norwich), Hayes (Celtic), O’Dowda (Bristol City), Horgan (Preston)

Strikers: Long (Southampton), Murphy (Nottingham Forest), McGoldrick (Ipswich), Doyle (Colorado Rapids), Maguire (Preston), Hogan (Aston Villa), O’Brien (Millwall).

Group D Table:

18 Serbia GD +10

14 Wales GD +7

13 Republic of Ireland GD +3

9 Austria GD 0

5 Georgia GD -4

2 Moldova GD -16

Friday 6 October 2017

Georgia v Wales

Austria v Serbia

Republic of Ireland v Moldova

Monday 9 October 2017

Moldova v Austria

Serbia v Georgia

Wales v Republic of Ireland

Scotland squad:

Goalkeepers: Jordan Archer (Millwall), Craig Gordon (Celtic), Allan McGregor (Hull City)

Defenders: Ikechi Anya (Derby County), Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian), Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Liam Cooper (Leeds United), Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Steven Whittaker (Hibernian)

Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Celtic), Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday), Scott Brown (Celtic), Darren Fletcher (Stoke City), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth), James Forrest (Celtic), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), John McGinn (Hibernian), Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion), James Morrison (West Bromich Albion), Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United), Robert Snodgrass (Aston Villa, on loan from West Ham United)

Forwards: Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Chris Martin (Derby County)

Group F Table:

20 England GD +13

15 Slovakia GD +8

14 Slovenia GD +6

14 Scotland GD +4

5 Lithuania -12

0 Malta GD -19

Thursday 5 October

England v Slovenia

Malta v Lithuania

Scotland v Slovakia

Sunday 8 October 2017

Lithuania v England

Slovakia v Malta

Slovenia v Scotland