Saturday's Third Division Roots Hall clash with Exeter City has coincided with a recall into the Northern Ireland squad for Southend United defender Barry Hunter.

The 29-year-old has been undergoing a month's rehabilitation at Southend, on loan from Second Division Reading, following two years in the football wilderness with a career threatening knee injury.

However, Hunter has breezed through his previous four matches with the Shrimpers and has been rewarded with a place in the Northern Ireland squad for the European Championship qualifier with Germany in Belfast on Saturday, March 27.

"I've got a lot to thank Southend for," admitted the giant stopper.

"When I came to Roots Hall I hadn't played for so long I was worried that my career as a professional footballer might have come to an end.

"But Southend gave me the chance to relaunch my career at Roots Hall and I'm very grateful to the fans, manager and chairman for giving me such an opportunity.

"However, the icing on the cake came today when I got a call from Northern Ireland coach Joe Jordan who has been watching my games for Southend.

"He told me I was ready for an international recall against Germany which is a massive honour, but something that wouldn't have happened unless Southend had helped me out."

The Exeter match is the last game of Hunter's loan period, but the towering defender revealed he would be happy to stay at Roots Hall for at least the rest of the season.

"After the Exeter game I've got to return to Reading to sort out my future, although I wouldn't rule out another loan or permanent move to Roots Hall," he said.

International recall - for Blues on-loan defender Barry Hunter

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