FORMER Oxford United midfielder Jim Magilton is thought to be a contender to replace Michael O'Neill as Northern Ireland manager.

Interviews are due to start tomorrow, with the chosen man taking over a side two games away from qualifying for next summer's delayed Euro 2020 finals.

Magilton, who won 18 of his 52 caps while at United, is already part of the Irish FA set-up as the elite performance director, having also been in charge of their under-21 side.

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He has had management roles at Ipswich Town and QPR, but his last No 1 job in senior football was with Melbourne Victory in 2012.

Former St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright is the favourite with the bookmakers, while Northern Ireland's under-21 manager Ian Baraclough and Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson are also seen as contenders.

O'Neill became Stoke boss in November and spent six months combining roles with club and country, but stepped down in April after the coronavirus pandemic led to the delay of their Euro 2020 qualifying play-off until October.

Northern Ireland, whose squad in March included United's Mark Sykes, are due to travel to Zenica to face Bosnia on October 8, with the winner facing either the Republic of Ireland or Slovakia for a place in the finals on November 12.

Those games will come after Northern Ireland open their Nations League campaign away to Romania on September 4.