Former Irishman Alan McLaughlin has died at the age of 54.

The midfielder is best remembered for his goal against Northern Ireland, who underwent surgery to remove the tumor from his spine last March, sending the boys to Green for the 1994 World Cup.

The former Portsmouth star had already had a tumor removed from his kidney in 2012, but it was revealed earlier this year that the cancer had returned.

He defended the team 42 times in his nine-year career. He sent Ireland to the World Cup in 1994 but did not play in any games. In the group stage matches against Italy, Mexico and Norway, the then player was in a reserve agreement and was eliminated from the 16th draw against the Netherlands.

Born in Manchester, he played for Ireland because of his father’s nationality. He joined Manchester United as a teenager and later moved to Swindon Town, where Charlton found him and transferred to the Irish national team just before the 1990 World Cup.

His debut was against Malta the day before the tournament, and he appeared twice in the final. Swindon was sold by McLaughlin after the 1990 World Cup in Italy, but spent most of his career in Portsmouth.