World Cup qualifiers: Whyte and Lavery latest out for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland senior men’s team manager Ian Baraclough has confirmed at least five players named in his original squad will not be making the trip to Switzerland and Bulgaria this month due to injury.
Dundee United goalkeeper Trevor Carson, Heart of Midlothian defender Michael Smith, Preston North End midfielder Alistair McCann, Oxford United winger Gavin Whyte (pictured immediately above) and Blackpool striker Shayne Lavery (main pic) have all withdrawn from the 26-strong panel for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers in Geneva and Sofia respectively.
The Northern Ireland boss said: “We’ve dealt with injuries coming into a number of previous camps and, unfortunately, this one is no different.
“But this is a resolute group that has come together through adversity and I have no doubt they will do it again.
“We are still waiting for a few players to join us and we look forward to a few days training in Belfast before we fly out to Switzerland.”
Leicester City defender Jonny Evans has yet to join up, however the manager is hopeful his vice-captain will be with the group in the coming days.
Baraclough has called up Liverpool goalkeeper Liam Hughes, Leyton Orient striker Paul Smyth, Sunderland midfielder Carl Winchester and Morecambe defender Ryan McLaughlin as replacements.
The call-up for Winchester, who played for Northern Ireland at all underage levels, comes more than a decade after he earned his one senior cap to date – as a substitute against Wales in May 2011.
Northern Ireland face the Swiss in European Qualifying Group C at Stade de Geneve on Saturday (9 October) and the Bulgarians in the Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski next Tuesday (12 October).