Exhausted Sanchez ready for debut
Lawrie Sanchez is suffering from fatigue as he prepares for his first match in charge of Northern Ireland.
The former Wycombe boss has worked round the clock since replacing Sammy McIlroy three weeks ago – and he will make his bow against Norway in a friendly at Windsor Park tomorrow with his mind in a whirl.
“I am exhausted, because it has been really hectic since I took over,” he said.
“There has been so much to do, so much to organise.
“It has been nice to see players for the first time. I can’t wait for the game to start – I just need a good night’s sleep.”
One of his key tasks was to get his backroom staff assembled – and Gerry Amstrong, Terry Gibson and goalkeeper Dave Beasant are now in place on a match-by-match basis.
‘Team Sanchez’ is anxious to turn the province’s wretched run of results around.
McIlroy left to join Stockport at the end of the Euro 2004 qualifiers which saw Northern Ireland finish bottom of their group – and without a goal in 1,242 minutes.
They have not won in 14 games and tumbled to 124 in the FIFA world rankings behind the likes of Benin and Lesotho. Norway, in comparison, are in 42nd spot.
Windsor Park is expected to host a 10,000-plus crowd for the game – way above the average for a friendly.
But Sanchez says it will take time to get things the way he wants.
“If we were to win 3-0 tomorrow it wouldn’t mean we were world champions all of a sudden,” he said.
“It is much the same group that has been here the last three years.
“They are trying to take on board an awful lot things I have said in a short space of time.
“Some of the them will work; some won’t. All that is important is the first step in a long journey.
“The players have reacted favourably to what I have had to say. I am just trying to get things a little bit more structured.”
Even though it is his first look at his players, Sanchez will not be making multiple substitutions.
“The team that starts will play for the first 45 minutes at least, unless something happens on the pitch, “ he said.
“It is difficult to gauge, but I can’t imagine making more than three to four substitutions.”
The 22-man squad went through another double training session today at their Belfast base and will have a brief run-out on the morning of the match.
Sanchez’s side is likely to be full of familiar faces, with Newcastle’s Aaron Hughes as captain.
David Healy, who has weighed in with 10 goals for Preston this season, and Glentoran’s Andy Smith are likely to be paired in attack.
Leicester winger Keith Gillespie is looking to mark his 29th birthday with a victory celebration.
“It is always exciting when a new manager comes in, and I am determined to play a big part,” he said.
“The lack of goals has been a major problem for us in the last couple of years, but there is a lot of ability in the squad.
“If we get an early goal against Norway I think you will see the confidence grow in the players.”
Team (probable): Taylor (Birmingham), Baird (Southampton), A Hughes (Newcastle), McCartney (Sunderland), Kennedy (Wigan), Gillespie (Leicester), Griffin (Stockport), M Hughes (C Palace), Johnson (Birmingham), Healy (Preston), Smith (Glentoran).
