Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans out of Greece game
Wednesday 7 October 2015 17:33, UK
Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans has been ruled out of the European Qualifier with Greece due to a hamstring injury.
The West Brom centre-back will join up with the squad in Belfast on Thursday, though, and is not yet ruled out of their final qualifier against Finland on Sunday.
Evans picked up the injury in the Baggies' 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday and will not be risked at Windsor Park in the first game of the double-header.
The 27-year-old joins suspended trio Kyle Lafferty, Connor McLaughlin and Chris Baird in missing the Greece clash.
"Jonny will join the squad tomorrow [Thursday] with a view to Sunday," confirmed manager Michael O'Neill.
"West Brom have been excellent in terms of co-operation on that. We always felt Thursday night would be too soon but he hasn't ruled out Sunday, neither have we and neither have the club."
O'Neill had been hoping to field Evans alongside Baggies team-mates Chris Brunt and Gareth McAuley in his back four but must now rethink.
Craig Cathcart is the leading candidate and looks certain to start after a promising return to the Premier League with Watford.
Manchester United's Paddy McNair - who can play in defence or midfield - also looks certain to come into the side, with Josh Magennis set to deputise for seven-goal top-scorer Lafferty.
Jamie Ward, absent against Hungary last month with a hamstring problem, will return to share the goalscoring burden.
O'Neill said: "Obviously the injury to Jonny at the weekend was a blow but one thing I have noticed in those three days, maybe more so than in the past, is that the squad is stronger now than at any time I've been in charge.
"I genuinely believe that we have the players to step in and deal with this game, in terms of dealing with the situation with Jonny not being available, and also with the suspensions we have as well."
Meanwhile, O'Neill is confident Kilmarnock striker Magennis can step up to replace Lafferty, who is the team's top scoring in qualifying with seven goals.
O'Neill said: "I think now he's at a club where he feels valued in terms of they play him in his natural position as a centre forward, in the past at Aberdeen he played at right-back on occasions, and he did very well in that position, I seen him many times play there for Aberdeen, but I think he always felt centre forward was his best position.
"He had a good season for Kilmarnock last season in a team that found it difficult in the SPL, and he was a key player in terms of them maintaining their SPL status, as he has been this season already for Kilmarnock.
"I think when you put trust and belief and you have that in a player and you put that in him as a manager, then you get rewards. And I think Josh is repaying his managers at club level certainly, and I have no doubts that the and belief I have in him as well, he will repay me also."
Watch Northern Ireland v Greece live on Thursday, 7:30pm, Sky Sports 5 HD.
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