West Bromwich Albion skipper Chris Brunt has welcomed a Northern Ireland return for the friendly against Finland.

Brunt has been sidelined for the majority of the summer with a calf strain which initially flared up during a visit to Belfast.

Brunt said: "Internationals at this stage are never good timing but, from my point of view, having missed virtually every friendly, it will be good to get some minutes under my belt.

"I should then get a better idea of how fit I am and hopefully I'll be involved in the first league game against Liverpool at the weekend."

Brunt admitted: "It's been a rubbish pre-season from my point of view. I went back to Belfast during the summer, went for a run, and just felt my calf go.

"Then it flared up again in Sweden but I felt okay against Forest so touch wood it is now fine."