Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy will be hoping Keith Gillespie and Aaron Hughes recover from worrying injuries with their World Cup qualifier against Malta less than two weeks away. McIlroy is hoping Gillespie and Hughes will recover in time to play in Northern Ireland's final Group Three game on October 6 in Malta's Ta'Qali national stadium.
Blackburn winger Gillespie has not played since he hurt his knee against Ipswich 11 days ago, while Hughes injured his hamstring playing in a Worthington Cup tie for Newcastle two weeks ago. McIlroy confirmed: "I've left word with them on their phones and I'm now waiting for them to get back to me. That hasn't happened yet and I'm hoping that's good news. They've got another 10 days with their injuries and I'm hoping that will see them right."
Steve Lomas, Gerry Taggart, Jon McCarthy, Mark Williams, Ian Nolan and Jeff Whitley are still missing through injury, but McIlroy has been able to welcome back Neil Lennon. Lennon pulled out of Northern Ireland's last two matches with a groin injury, but he has fully recovered and he played in Celtic's Champions League win over Porto last night.
Linfield striker Glenn Ferguson's international career is over and McIlroy has told the Irish League part-timer he wants to give his younger forwards a chance.
Squad (from):Carroll (Manchester United), Taylor (Fulham), A Hughes (Newcastle), Murdock (Preston), Griffin (Dundee United), Kennedy (Wigan), McCartney (Sunderland), Horlock (Manchester City), Johnson (Blackburn), Gillespie (Blackburn), M Hughes (Wimbledon), Mulryne (Norwich), Magilton (Ipswich), Lennon (Celtic), Healy (Preston), Elliott (Motherwell), McVeigh (Norwich), Kirk (Hearts), Quinn (West Brom).
Filed by Shane Murray
