SOCCER/GROUP C: Nigel Worthington will give Paddy McCourt and Kyle Lafferty every chance of proving their fitness ahead of tonight's Euro 2012 qualifier against Serbia but is bracing himself for bad news.
The visit of Serbia to Windsor Park is pivotal to Worthington’s hopes of securing second spot in Group C and calf injuries to both players have given him a serious headache.
Rangers striker Lafferty would be a certain starter after missing the 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands with a hernia problem, while Celtic playmaker McCourt lit up that game with a man-of-the-match performance and two memorable goals.
With Derby’s Jamie Ward already ruled out of the original 23-man squad, Worthington could be left very short of attacking options.
In Lafferty’s absence he would be likely to start with record scorer David Healy up front, despite his lack of playing time at Rangers and no international goals since October 2008.
Millwall’s Josh McQuoid and Plymouth’s Warren Feeney are also on duty, with Chris Brunt back from suspension to offer a creative option from midfield.
Three of Serbia’s major stars – Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic, Juventus’ Milos Krasic and Birmingham forward Nikola Zigic – are all absent for this match.
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