Preston defender Colin Murdock has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland squad for next week's friendly against Finland.

Murdock has a knee injury and is replaced in the panel by Cheltenham defender Michael Duff.

Duff has two caps which he earned in friendlies against Poland and Cyprus last year.

Northern Ireland boss Sammy McIlroy will be hoping that Murdock is not the first in a series of withdrawals from the squad.

McIlroy believes the friendly against Finland has the potential to be a useful test before the European qualifiers resume.

Hughes has not played club football this season

McIlroy has named an experienced 19-man squad for the 12 February game at Windsor Park. Partick Thistle defender Stephen Craigan is the only newcomer.

"Finland have some fantastic players," said McIlroy. "They will be tough opposition.

"I am after a boost before the matches against Armenia and Greece, and Finland could put us in the right frame of mind.

"We need our best players, our experienced players. That has been my problem in friendlies - we do not get the majority through.

"The two qualifiers are massive games for us. If we can achieve good results then the group will open up."

Contractual dispute

Northern Ireland are away to Armenia on Saturday 29 March and then play Greece in Belfast on Wednesday 2 April.

Midfielder Michael Hughes has been invited to train with the squad after being dropped reluctantly by McIlroy.

Hughes has not played a club match this season because of a bitter contractual dispute involving Wimbledon and Birmingham.

"I would have loved to have picked Michael in the squad because he is one of our more experienced players. But he has not played any matches," said McIlroy.