Paul Stirling will return to Middlesex next summer on a full-time contract.

Although injury prevented Stirling making his county debut in the final Pro40 game of last season, Middlesex knew what they had on their hands and they have signed the Ireland international on a three-year contract.

The good news for National Coach Phil Simmons, however, is that he will still have first call on his services next season as Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s managing director of cricket acknowledged: “Paul has been involved with the Middlesex youth sides and Second XI and we are delighted that he has now signed a full time contract for the club.

“His batting for Ireland in 2009 (when he scored two half centuries in the Friends Provident Trophy and top scored against England at Stormont) highlighted his potential. Paul has a central contract with Cricket Ireland and we are happy that representing Ireland will be his priority for the time being.”

Stirling, who has just returned from an ICC High Performance Training Camp in South Africa - Gary Wilson, Kevin O'Brien and Alex Cusack where the other Ireland players in attendance - is one of 17 players who are attending Ireland’s first winter training session of the year in Bready this weekend.

Speaking about the deal Stirling said: ""I am delighted to have signed a three year deal with Middlesex and look forward to going over when Ireland commitments allow.  It is something that I've always wanted to do and it can only be beneficial for my game."

In the first session since Kyle McCallan announced his retirement, young bowlers Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell and Gary Kidd have all been invited to join the squad, along with Shane Getkate and Reinhardt Strydom who did not feature in the senior team last year.

John Mooney, Andrew Poynter and Jeremy Bray, who are all out of the country, along with James Hall and Fintan McAllister, were the players missing at Bready who were involved in match action in 2009.