North face an uphill battle

NORTHERN IRELAND manager Bryan Hamilton may be forced to include four new caps against Sweden in tonight's friendly at Windsor Park.

Goalkeeper Aidan Davison (Bolton), 18-year-old centre half Danny Griffin (St Johnstone) and wingers Jon McCarthy (Port Vale) and James Quinn (Blackpool) are set to take their international bows after a rash of withdrawals.

All four played in last month's 3-0 B international victory over Norway at Coleraine.

Hamilton has delayed finalising his team until midday but his options are extremely limited.

Injury has ruled out key men Keith Gillespie (Newcastle), Phil Gray (Sunderland), Neil Lennon (Leicester) and Alan Fettis (Nottingham Forest) while West Ham striker Iain Dowie is serving a one match suspension.

Davison will take over from Fettis, Griffin is expected to be at right back allowing Steve Lomas of Manchester City, to switch into midfield.

McCarthy seems the obvious replacement for Gillespie who was ordered to bed with tonsillitis.

Quinn, a protege of former Northern Ireland boss Billy Bingham, could find himself in the centre of the attack alongside either George O'Boyle (St Johnstone) or Gerard McMahon (Tottenham)

Swedish manager Tommy Svensson is also using this fixture as preparation for the World Cup. "We were disappointed not qualifying for the Euro `96 finals. Now we must lift ourselves up again," he said

Twelve of his squad have played more than 20 times for their country - an indication of the uphill battle which a youthful. highly experimental Northern Ireland side will face.