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McMenemy warns team

Lawrie McMenemy, Northern Ireland's manager, has warned his players to avoid at all costs intimidation and retaliation in tonight…

Sat Sept 05 1998 - 01:00

Lawrie McMenemy, Northern Ireland's manager, has warned his players to avoid at all costs intimidation and retaliation in tonight's opening European Championship game against Turkey.

"It will be frightening, overpowering," he said. "The population of Istanbul is six million and you feel every one of them has been packed into that ground. It is no place for the faint-hearted".

The honeymoon period for McMenemy since he replaced Bryan Hamilton in February is over. Gone, too, is the euphoria of the friendly wins against Slovakia and Switzerland, dampened by a 41 defeat by Spain two months ago.

Now it is down to stern reality in a group that also includes Germany, Finland and Moldova. Northern Ireland's hopes of qualifying are remote, with a play-off place probably the best that can be achieved. Home competitive results over two years have been abysmal, the away record not much better: they won only one of their 10 World Cup qualifying games.

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McMenemy is handicapped by the lack of squad members appearing regularly in the Premiership. Too many are either on the bench or languishing in the reserves and, indeed, Alan Fettis is only Blackburn Rovers' third choice.

Keith Gillespie, the Newcastle United winger, out since April with an ankle injury and with no match practice, should nevertheless make a difference along with Michael Hughes of Wimbledon.

Philip Mulryne, a 20-year-old Manchester United winger desperate to make his Old Trafford breakthrough, has recovered from a stomach complaint and will operate on the right side of midfield as a replacement for the injured Steve Lomas of West Ham.

Iain Dowie of Queens Park Rangers makes his 50th international appearance and to celebrate has been given the captain's armband in the absence of Lomas.

Mustapha Denizli, the Turkish manager, is also under pressure to improve results. Turkey failed to qualify for the World Cup, finishing third behind Holland and Belgium, and since January have lost three friendlies against Albania, Cyprus and Egypt.

Turkey (probable): Rysto; Aipay, Ogun, Bulent; Thyfun, Tugay, Sergen, Abdullah; Oguz; Arif, Hakan.

Northern Ireland (probable): Fettis, (Blackburn Rovers); Rowland (QPR), Hill (Northampton), Morrow (QPR), Horlock (Manchester City), Gillespie (Newcastle Utd), Mulryne (Manchester United), Lennon (Leicester City), Hughes (Wimbledon), Dowie (QPR), Quinn (West Bromwich).