Group Three/San Marino v Northern Ireland:NORTHERN IRELAND manager Nigel Worthington has insisted there is no rift with record scorer David Healy.
Worthington lost his cool and spoke out after being appalled by the manner of their defeat at home by Hungary in a friendly three months ago. He accused some of his players, who were not getting regular club football, of being unfit.
Healy – then out of the picture at Sunderland – apparently took exception to the remarks from a manager he had worked with at Norwich. However, Worthington was keen to put the record straight on the eve of tonight’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino.
“I gave my opinion after the game, which was right and proper,” he said. “Every player knew exactly where I was coming from.
“If you are not fit, you are going to struggle. David then responded, but people have been trying to make something when there is nothing there.
“My relationship with David has been first class, back to the time when we were together at Norwich. It will remain outstanding for three reasons – because of the relationship we already have; because of the player he is for Northern Ireland; because there is only one way to get on and that is to have harmony in the camp.”
After amassing 35 goals for Northern Ireland, Healy has suddenly started to fire for Sunderland with two in two games, including one in the crucial victory against Stoke at the weekend. That is just the boost Worthington hoped for at the start of 2009.
“David is back in the frame and things have changed since the Hungary game. One or two others are also getting more regular football. Certainly the players have been bouncing in training since we met up on Sunday.”
Worthington could be tempted to field three strikers – Healy, Kyle Lafferty and Martin Paterson – against a San Marino side that has never won a competitive game and lie joint last in 201st place in the FIFA world rankings.
Paterson is a player in the form of his life and has wracked up an impressive 17 goals for Burnley this season.
Norwich midfielder Sammy Clingan has been ruled out of tonight’s game because of a thigh strain. Clingan broke down in training at the squad’s base in Riccoine and will be returning to his club for treatment.
Midfielder Dean Shiels picked up an ankle injury in training and is doubtful as is striker Warren Feeney with a virus.
However defender George McCartney has recovered from severe blisters and is almost certain to play.
Previous results
Sept 6th: Slovakia 2 N Ireland 1, Poland 1 Slovenia 1. Sept 10th: San Marino 0 Poland 2; Slovenia 2 Slovakia 1; N Ireland 0 Czech Rep. Oct 11th: Poland 2 Czech Rep 1; San Marino 1 Slovakia 3; Slovenia 2 N Ireland 0. Oct 15th: Czech Rep 1 Slovenia 0; N Ireland 4 San Marino 0; Slovakia 2 Poland 1. Nov 19th: San Marino 0 Czech Rep 3.
Remaining fixtures
Tonight: San Marino v N Ireland. Sat, Mar 28th: Slovenia v Czech Republic, N Ireland v Poland. Wed, Apr 1st: N Ireland v Slovenia, Poland v San Marino, Czech Republic v Slovakia. Sat, Jun 6th: Slovakia v San Marino. Wed, Aug 19th: Slovenia v San Marino. Sat, Sept 5th: Slovakia v Czech Republic, Poland v N Ireland. Wed, Sept 9th: Czech Republic v San Marino, N Ireland v Slovakia, Slovenia v Poland. Sat, Oct 10th: Czech Republic v Poland Slovakia v Slovenia. Wed, Oct 14th: Czech Republic v N Ireland, Poland v Slovakia, San Marino v Slovenia.
