Jonny Evans included in Northern Ireland squad

West Brom last week rejected an offer from City for their 29-year-old defender Evans, with Baggies boss Tony Pulis adamant his captain's absence so far this season is a result of a nagging hamstring issue rather than the interest in him.

Pulis stressed on Tuesday that Evans will play on Sunday against Stoke "if he's fit" and Michael O'Neill has named him in his 25-man group for Northern Ireland's games against San Marino and Czech Republic in September.

Evans' West Brom team-mate Gareth McAuley is missing due to the thigh problem that forced him off against Azerbaijan in June and striker Liam Boyce, another who started in Baku, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for new club Burton in a pre-season friendly.

QPR's Conor Washington has been recalled after he missed the last qualifier to get married and Jonny's brother Corry Evans is another addition from the most recent squad having overcome a groin injury.

There is also a place for Craig Cathcart despite the fact he is yet to appear for Watford this season, with groin and knee issues restricting him to just a solitary appearance in his country's qualification campaign so far.

Injuries to Sunderland's Paddy McNair (knee) and Nottingham Forest's Jamie Ward (calf) keep them out and there is once again no place for Will Grigg, who is yet to start a league game for Wigan in this campaign.

The Northern Irish, currently second in Group C, travel to San Marino next week and then face the Czechs in Belfast the following Monday.

They are currently four points clear of Czech Republic and can guarantee a second-placed finish in this double header if results go their way.

Full squad: Roy Carroll (Linfield), Michael McGovern (Norwich), Alan Mannus (St. Johnstone); Aaron Hughes (Hearts), Jonny Evans (West Brom), Chris Brunt (West Brom), Craig Cathcart (Watford), Conor McLaughlin (Millwall), Lee Hodson (Rangers), Daniel Lafferty (Sheffield United), Adam Thompson (Bury), Ryan McLaughlin (Oldham), Tom Flanagan (Burton); Steven Davis (Southampton), Niall McGinn (Gwangju), Oliver Norwood (Brighton), Corry Evans (Blackburn), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Stuart Dallas (Leeds), Paul Paton (St. Johnstone), Matthew Lund (Burton); Kyle Lafferty (Hearts), Josh Magennis (Charlton), Conor Washington (QPR), Shay McCartan (Bradford).