Thursday 13 November 2014 22:54, UK
Steven Davis has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland squad for Friday's European Qualifier against Romania.
The Southampton midfielder was forced to come off with a hamstring injury during the first half of his side's victory over Leicester last Saturday.
The Northern Ireland captain joined up with the squad on Tuesday and was assessed by the team's medical staff before withdrawing on Wednesday morning.
Irish boss Michael O'Neill has already called up Oldham's Carl Winchester and Rochdale's Matty Lund into his squad.
Davis' absence represents a huge blow for O'Neill's side, who are the surprise leaders of Group F after kicking off their campaign with three successive wins.
A point in Romania would see them remain at the summit until at least the next round of fixtures in March.
In light of the injury, winger Niall McGinn said: "No-one does more than Davo. He's our captain, he's definitely our leader on the pitch and he's done so well for us for a number of years.
"He came in to the team hotel on Tuesday because he's been with his club having scans, he was just chilling and taking it easy but there's no doubt he'll be hugely disappointed not to have made it.
"It's a massive miss for us but there are other players who come in and do a good job. It will show the strength in depth we have if we can cover for him.
"He brings so much with his performances alone and he helps bring up everyone else around him to those standards."
Goalkeeper Roy Carroll added: "Steven has been fantastic since I came back into the set-up. He's never missed a game.
"But you can't take a chance on a player of his quality. We don't want to make the injury worse if he isn't 100 per cent and we have other players who can come in and give 100 per cent."
O'Neill, who had already lost forward Jamie Ward and full-back Ryan McLaughlin to injury, must now replace Davis as captain and in the centre of the park.
Brighton defender Aaron Hughes led the side for a decade before Davis and would be an obvious candidate to step in, but he has also got question marks over his match fitness after suffering an ankle problem.
Hughes was passed after taking part in full training on Tuesday and Wednesday without any problems.
West Brom's Gareth McAuley is another option, though he turned down the chance to lead the team out in Greece last month on the occasion of his 50th cap in deference to Davis.
Hughes and McAuley's partnership in central defence has attained four wins in the last four games they have partnered each other at centre back for the Irish.
In midfield, O'Neill can choose from the likes of Sammy Clingan, Paul Paton and Corry Evans, as well as uncapped Rochdale man Matthew Lund who was called up as squad cover on Tuesday.
Northern Ireland’s game with Romania is live on Sky Sports 2 HD, with coverage starting on Friday November 14 at 7.30pm
