 McLaughlin scored two goals against England in 1964 despite breaking two fingers early in the game.In total, he won 12 caps and scored six goals with Northern Ireland.Early in the 1963–64 season McLaughlin moved to Swansea Town, for whom he scored the winner in a FA Cup quarter-final tie at the Kop end at Anfield, and then in 1966–67 to Peterborough United.