Joe Royle will tell the Irish Football Association (IFA) this week if he wants to become Northern Ireland's new manager. The IFA want the former Everton and Oldham boss on their short list, which will go before their international committee for a final decision.

IFA president Jim Boyce met Royle before Christmas and is expecting his call any day.

"The arrangement was that Joe would go away over Christmas and New Year, have a think about it and then let me know," he said. "I'm expecting his call this week."

Boyce claims he wants a manager with "European experience and a proven track record", but he stressed that did not mean they would not consider candidates from Northern Ireland.

"Local managers - such as Pat Rice, Sammy McIlroy and Jimmy Quinn - have not been ruled out," he said.

"It's just that the international committee feel it's right that we go for someone different first.

"Look at Roy Hodgson with Switzerland and Jack Charlton with the Republic of Ireland - it's worked for them when they've brought someone else in."

Northern Ireland also hope to play a friendly against Romania in Bucharest on May 30th, before flying to Santander to face Spain on June 3rd.

Boyce revealed that the Romania match is dependent on them offering the IFA a larger fee.

Northern Ireland's next game is expected to be against Colombia on March 25th at Windsor Park, although that has still to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, Bolton veteran John Sheridan is on the comeback trail and could be back in Premiership action by next month.

The former Republic of Ireland midfielder has not played this season after aggravating a knee problem in a pre-season friendly against Crewe.

Sheridan (33) has been out of action for six months and has had two operations and a spell at the rehabilitation centre at Lilleshall.

But the former Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday star is now back in training.