World Cup qualifier: Northern Ireland v Slovakia
Venue: Windsor Park Date: Wednesday, 9 September Kick-off: 1945 BST Coverage: Live on Radio Ulster FM and medium wave and Radio Ulster website, live text commentary online and score updates on BBC Radio 5 Live, highlights on BBC1 NI 2315 BST

Report - Lafferty out of Slovakia game

Kyle Lafferty has been ruled out of Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Slovakia with a knee injury.

The 21-year-old underwent a scan on the injury he sustained during the 1-1 draw with Poland and was then assessed by the team's medical staff on Tuesday.

It was decided not to take any risks with the player's fitness and the striker has therefore been withdrawn from the squad for Wednesday's game.

Slovakia captain Miroslav Karhan is set be ruled out because of a foot injury.

Lafferty has returned to his club, Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers.

Lafferty sustained the injury during the second half in Poland, in which he scored after 37 minutes of the first half.

With Warren Feeney also missing through injury, Burnley striker Martin Paterson will partner David Healy in attack, Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington confirmed on Tuesday.

The remainder of the starting line-up is likely to be unchanged.

"Kyle has gone back to Glasgow. It would not be right for him to be tested, it would be unfair to ourselves and to Rangers," said Worthington.

"He will have ongoing treatment and we hope he will be fit in a few weeks.

"Martin Paterson does not have to bounce back - Martin can miss as many chances as he wants, as long as he works hard for the team.

"If he does that I will always have time for him - and the other bit will come.

"To go and miss a chance is part and parcel of being a striker."

Accrington Stanley striker Billy Kee was called into the squad on Sunday.

Meanwhile West Bromwich Albion winger Chris Brunt has joined up with the squad in Belfast after missing the game in Poland because of a calf injury.

606: DEBATE Wednesday is going to be one of the biggest most special nights at Windsor in decades Derek-NI

Defender Chris Baird is also back in the panel after serving a one-match suspension but striker Andrew Little and Sunderland player George McCartney are still absent.

Kee impressed while playing for the Northern Ireland Elite squad at the recent Milk Cup tournament and was part of the Under-21 panel which lost 2-0 to the Czech Republic in a European Championship qualifying game on Friday night.

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