DALLAS HEADING TO THE EUROS

DALLAS HEADING TO THE EUROS

United winger named in Northern Ireland's squad for summer showpiece...

United winger Stuart Dallas has been named in the Northern Ireland squad for Euro 2016.

Dallas, United’s top appearance maker last season (49) following his summer switch from Brentford, initially linked up with Michael O’Neill’s side last week ahead of Friday night's international friendly with Belarus.

The 25-year-old played 74 minutes of the 3-0 win at Windsor Park and has now been included in the 23-man squad that will travel to Austria for a five-day training camp before heading to Slovakia for their final pre-tournament friendly.

Dallas, who recently claimed United’s Players’ Player of the Year award, already has 13 full international caps to his name after helping Northern Ireland make history by securing a place at a major tournament for the first time in 30 years.

They’ll face a stern test in Group C when things get underway next month, having been drawn alongside Poland, Ukraine and world champions Germany, but Dallas insists the squad will be relishing the challenge after defying the odds to reach the finals in the first place.

“It is a tough group,” he said. “Every team at the finals is quality and we are under no illusions as to how tough it’s going to be.

“But we’re looking forward to it – we don’t fear anyone, I know that much. Even Germany, who we play last.

“It could work well by playing them last. We need positive results from the first two matches and then we will be full of confidence.

“Plus, who knows, Germany may already be through by the time they play us.

“We have shown all the way through qualifying that we can score goals. The manager has really put a team together and done something special.

“The squad is going to prepare the best it can. We all know the schedule for Euro 2016 and it looks impressive.

“No one can take a place in the squad for granted and we all just want to be a part of it now we know what the schedule will be.”

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