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Carling Nations Cup
Venue: Aviva Stadium Date: Wednesday 9 February 2011 Kick-off: 1945
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Ulster medium wave and the BBC Sport website; highlights on BBC1 NI 2315

Captain Aaron Hughes has a hamstring problem, Chris Brunt has an ankle injury and striker Kyle Lafferty is being tested for glandular fever.

Maik Taylor, Craig Cathcart and Sammy Clingan and Jonny Gorman are also out.

Watford pair Adam Thompson and Lee Hodson, Aberdeen's Rory McArdle and Manchester United's Oliver Norwood have been brought in as replacements.

Goalkeeper Taylor is ruled out with a knee injury, Craig Cathcart has a hamstring problem, Sammy Clingan a knee complaint and Jonny Gorman a groin injury.

Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan will captain the NI team.

It is the first time Harlow-born Thompson has featured in Nigel Worthington's squad.

A product of the academy at Watford, he signed his first professional contract in November.

Northern Ireland's record scorer David Healy is back in the squad after being left out for the game against Morocco in November.

Healy recently agreed a move to Rangers until the end of the season.

Former Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce earned a call-up after his move to German club Werder Bremen in September.

Boyce has been scoring regularly for the Bremen outfit's under-23 side which effectively is the club's reserve team.

Manager Nigel Worthington said that Healy's move to Rangers was a chance to get his career back on track but would not be drawn on whether he would start against the Scots.

Northern Ireland squad

Goalkeepers -Tuffey (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Blayney (Linfield)

Defenders - J Evans (Manchester United), Craigan (Motherwell), McArdle (Aberdeen), McAuley (Ipswich), Baird (Fulham), McCartney (Sunderland - on loan at Leeds), Hodson (Watford), Thompson (Watford)

Midfielders - McCann (Peterborough United), C Evans (Manchester United - on loan at Hull), Davis (Rangers), McGinn (Celtic), McCourt (Celtic), Norwood (Manchester United)

Forwards - Healy (Rangers), Feeney (Oldham), R Patterson (Plymouth), Boyce (Werder Bremen)

Labels: Ireland, Northern, players, squad, Three