Northern Ireland v Norway Team news, predictions & odds

The game kicks off at 1945 GMT at Windsor Park, live on Sky Sports 2 HD.  

Northern Ireland v Norway: Our prediction

Click here for David John's betting preview 

Northern Ireland v Wales: Manager quotes

Michael O'Neill (Northern Ireland)

On the qualifying campaign: "Once you get to double figures, then suddenly your mindset changes a little bit and you start to think about qualification as possibly a more realistic proposition at that time.

"If you look at us in the previous (Euro 2016 qualification) campaign we won four of the first five and everyone starts to look forward to it. As long as you keep that momentum in the campaign, it's not that difficult for me to retain the focus for the players because we don't have a player in our squad that has been to a World Cup.

"I'm sure the experience they had in the summer, they would love to experience that again at the biggest tournament of all. I suppose that's all we need in terms of a motivating factor." 

On Norway: "I would expect to see a lot of British-based players in Lars Lagerback's starting XI, just in terms of their readiness to play.

"We think we have a fair idea of how they'll play.

"I don't think the game will be decided because of anything tactical. I think it will be a very British game and decided by who on the day maybe wants it more.

"We have to really make sure that in terms of what we put into the game, it's everything that we have. The tactical side of it will not necessarily be the determining factor in the game." 

On Kyle Lafferty: "His game time has been very, very limited.

"His overall fitness is very good, in terms of match fitness that's a different thing. It will be a factor in terms of the decision that I make but the thing about Kyle is however long we play him for, we know we will get something from him, he is still very, very important to us.

"We saw that in the game against San Marino, where he comes off the bench and scores twice, and we also saw it in the game against Azerbaijan where he scores a very important goal to get us in front.

"Those are things I just have to decide but whatever we get out of him will be of benefit to us." 

On working in the Premier League: "Football's more volatile now than it's ever been.

"Everyone always thinks the next step for a manager in my position is to go into club football in England and that may not be the case. The game's a lot more global now. Look at the tenure of a club manager in England and it's maybe not as appealing as it was.

"You never know how someone evaluates what you do, the ownership model at clubs is very different from what it was. It would be foolhardy of me to wish my career away thinking 'I wish I had that job, this job'. I don't think like that.

"I'm five years in this job and a lot of people are trying to put me into another job but I'm okay where I'm at. I'm focused on the games now and in June and the prize, hopefully, of getting to Russia." 

On Gareth McAuley: "He's a better player for me now than he was when I took the job.

"Playing in the Premier League has made him a better defender, to be able to improve at that age is probably very rare.

"He's an example of a player who didn't get the opportunity of being a professional footballer at a young age, and who never gave up.

"Nothing has come easy to him, his club career hasn't come easy to him, his international career hasn't come easy to him. I suppose his legacy will be that it's never too late." 

On Ryan McLaughlin: "Ryan is in and has played consistently now this season at Oldham.

"It's the biggest run of games in his career and the reports have been good. He's played in a variety of positions so it's nice to see a young player coming back in again." 

On Craig Cathcart: "We've not had him for four games and we saw in the summer how important Craig is to us.

"It's been a difficult season for him, he came back and had the operation early in the season and it's been a bit stop-start for him. He's certainly a player I much prefer to be in the squad than out of it." 

Northern Ireland v Norway: Team news

Michael O'Neill has called up Sheffield United full-back Daniel Lafferty to his Northern Ireland squad for this weekend's World Cup qualifier with Norway.

The 27-year-old had been on standby after O'Neill watched him against Bolton last month, but the international boss was initially reluctant to call him up and withdraw Lafferty from club duties with the Blades pushing for promotion to the Sky Bet Championship.

However, Lafferty has now joined up with his country for the first time since before last summer's European Championship.

Lafferty had been in the initial squad for Euro 2016 but failed to make the cut to travel to France having not played since March. 

Corry Evans has been included in a squad that has also been boosted by Craig Cathcart's return.

Midfielder Evans has not played in over two months with his ongoing groin issue but his club Blackburn are fine with his selection, while Watford defender Cathcart is available for the first time since the summer's European Championships having battled his own injury problems.

Shane Ferguson's suspension has opened the door for Oldham's Ryan McLaughlin to earn a recall but there is no place for Wigan striker Will Grigg, who has a knee problem.

Northern Ireland squad: M McGovern (Norwich), A Mannus (St Johnstone), R Carroll (Linfield), G McAuley, J Evans (both West Brom), D Lafferty (Sheffield United), A Hughes (Hearts), C Cathcart (Watford), C McLaughlin (Fleetwood), L Hodson (Rangers), T Flanagan (Burton), R McLaughlin (Oldham), C Brunt (West Brom), S Davis (Southampton), N McGinn (Aberdeen), O Norwood (Brighton), C Evans (Blackburn), J Ward (Nottingham Forest), S Dallas (Leeds), M Lund (Rochdale), P Paton (St Johnstone), K Lafferty (Norwich), J Magennis (Charlton), C Washington (QPR), L Boyce (Ross County). 

Northern Ireland v Norway: Opta facts

Northern Ireland have lost six of their seven international encounters with Norway (W1), including each of the last five. 

Although, the Green and White Army’s only competitive home game against Norway came in a Euro 1976 qualifier, winning 3-0. 

Northern Ireland have lost just one of their last 11 home internationals (W8 D2), losing a friendly against Croatia in their last international fixture. 

Michael O’Neill has lost just one of his last 10 qualifying matches as Northern Ireland manager (W5 D4).  

Norway have lost six of their last seven qualifiers (W1), with that solitary victory coming against San Marino in October. 

The Norwegians have an even worse record on the road, with their last away win coming in September 2015, losing six of the last seven since (D1). 

Kyle Lafferty has netted 10 goals in his last 13 qualification matches for Northern Ireland. In fact, he has bagged goals in five of his last six home qualifiers (seven goals).  

Indeed, the Norn Iron striker has scored in both of the World Cup 2017 qualifiers at Windsor Park (three goals).      

Northern Ireland v Norway: Sky Bet odds 

Northern Ireland are in second place in Group C behind an unbeaten Germany and they can be backed at 7/5 with Sky Bet for three more points to keep up the pursuit. Norway are second bottom and 23/10 for their second victory of the qualifying campaign while a stalemate is on offer at 19/10. Home striker Kyle Lafferty heads the betting to be first goalscorer at 9/2 and he is trading at 2/1 currently in the anytime market.   

Click for Sky Bet's Republic of Ireland v Wales odds!

Northern Ireland v Norway: Latest stories

Conor Washington boosted by Norway changes
Michael O'Neill on the Premier League
Conor Washington on problems at the start of his QPR career
Stuart Dallas feeling confident