Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley will be fit to face Greece in Thursday’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier.
The West Bromwich Albion player sat out training on Monday to allow him an extra day to recover from his side’s 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday.
“Gareth was in the wars a bit but he will be fine for Thursday,” explained Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill.
The NI manager added that he was “in constant dialogue” with West Brom about the fitness of Jonny Evans.
The 27-year-old defender is doubtful for the crunch Group F game after
hobbling off with a hamstring injury
in the 24th minute of his side’s game at Selhurst Park.
Crucial double-header
Northern Ireland face Greece at Windsor Park on Thursday, then play Finland in Helsinki three days later.
O’Neill’s outfit are top of Group F and need two points to qualify for next summer’s European Championship.
“West Brom are being fantastic in their co-operation in trying to get Jonny fit for Thursday. He has remained with his club and it’s a day-to-day process to see how he is,” revealed O’Neill.
“We know Jonny will do everything possible to get fit. We can’t leave it too late but with a player of Jonny’s stature and what he brings to the team we will give him as long as possible.”
Hawthorns boss Tony Pulis indicated that McAuley, who has scored three goals during Northern Ireland’s Euro qualifying campaign, had “played through the pain” with a
on Saturday.
Chris Brunt took a blow to the face in the first half of the same match, but returned to the pitch and will be fit to face the Greeks.
Meanwhile O’Neill has reported that Aaron Hughes, Billy McKay and Pat McCourt are carrying “niggles” ahead of the Euro qualifying double-header.
Neither McKay, nor McCourt, were able to turn out for their clubs at the weekend.
Hughes has been lined up to replace the suspended Conor McLaughlin for the clash with Greece but O’Neill is now expected to add an additional defender to his squad as a precautionary measure.
Doncaster Rovers defender Luke McCullough and MK Dons midfielder Ben Reeves have already been
to join up with O’Neill’s squad.
O’Neill confident of squad strength
Chris Baird and Kyle Lafferty are also forced to sit out the game in Belfast because of bans, with Manchester United’s Paddy McNair and Kilmarnock’s Josh Magennis their most likely replacements.
“This squad has been together for a while now and I have no doubt the players who come in will not let us down,” said O’Neill.
“Thursday is important but so too is Sunday. We have to prepare with a mentality that qualification could go right down to the 90th minute against Finland.
“With that in mind, Conor, Chris and Kyle will begin their preparation for that game already, in the same way they would do if they were playing a club game this weekend.”
