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Page last updated at 15:11 GMT, Sunday, 14 November 2010

Four more players out of NI squad to face Morocco

Kyle Lafferty
Kyle Lafferty was injured in the warm-up before Rangers' match against Aberdeen

The Northern Ireland squad to face Morocco in a friendly international at Windsor Park has been further decimated by the loss of four more players.

Stephen Craigan and Steven Davis have been ruled out by groin injuries, Kyle Lafferty has a foot injury and George McCartney is out with an ankle problem.

Seven other players have withdrawn from the original panel named last week.

Aberdeen pair Josh Magennis and Rory McArdle and defender Ryan McGivern, on loan at Walsall, have been called up.

Preston midfielder Adam Barton, Andrew Little, Josh McQuoid, Lee Hodson and Michael O'Connor had previously been brought in to the squad.

In September Blackburn-born Barton pulled out of Nigel Worthington's squad for Euro 2012 games because he wanted to remain eligible for England.

The 19-year-old could play for Northern Ireland in a friendly and still be able to switch to England in the future.

However, there is still no place for record scorer David Healy, despite the loss of Oldham front man Feeney.

The Sunderland striker commenced a one-month loan deal to Doncaster Rovers last week and has scored two goals in two matches for the Championship side.

The 31-year-old has been involved in every Northern Ireland squad, when available, since his debut in 2000.

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He has won 84 caps and scored 35 goals, but has no goals in the last two years.

Striker Feeney has a back injury while Ipswich defender McAuley is ruled out by an Achilles problem.

Taylor is out with a shoulder injury, Baird has a torn thigh muscle and Evans has an ongoing hamstring complaint.

Clingan sustained a knee ligament injury last week and he will be ruled out for four to six weeks.

McCann's club, Peterborough United, are involved in an FA Cup replay next week so he will be absent.

"The fortunate thing is that these injuries have happened before a friendly and not a European qualifier," said Worthington.

"It will also give someone else a chance to come in and try to impress.

"The game will give me the chance to look at different options ahead of next year's games in the Carling Nations Cup and the qualifiers.

"Morocco will be a great test for us. They have a lot of quality, including Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh.

"He scored twice against Wolves this week so he is a big threat."


N Ireland squad: Tuffey (Inverness), Blayney (Linfield), Evans (Manchester United), Hughes (Fulham), Hodson (Watford), Little (Rangers), Brunt (West Bromwich Albion), Gorman (Wolverhampton Wanderers), McGinn (Celtic), McCourt (Celtic), O'Connor (Scunthorpe United), Barton (Preston North End), Patterson (Plymouth Argyle), McQuoid (Bournemouth), Magennis (Aberdeen), McArdle (Aberdeen), McGivern (Manchester City, on loan at Walsall).



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see also
Feeney and McAuley out of NI game
11 Nov 10 |  Football
Healy left out of N Ireland squad
08 Nov 10 |  Football
N Ireland hit by Barton pull-out
29 Sep 10 |  Irish


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