International:Hughes handed captain’s armband
Newcastle’s Aaron Hughes will captain Northern Ireland for the first time against Spain tonight after Jim Magilton became the 13th player to be ruled out of the reckoning for Sammy McIlroy.
Magilton, who would have skippered McIlroy’s side, will not be joining up with the Irish squad in Belfast because of a worrying family problem.
In his absence, McIlroy has handed the captain’s armband to Hughes, who at 22 is only five weeks older than England’s new skipper Michael Owen.
‘‘Aaron’s done magnificent for me and I’m sure he will be a great captain,’’ said McIlroy.
‘‘It will be a proud moment for the boy and he won’t let us down.’’
Although McIlroy has lost Magilton, Keith Gillespie has recovered from his severe sore throat and will be fit to play.
McIlroy has decided against calling anyone else up at this late stage and his six substitutes at Windsor Park tonight will have just 16 caps between them.
Spain have just the one injury absentee as Deportivo La Coruna striker Diego Tristan has pulled out after injuring his thigh in training last night.
Northern Ireland: Taylor, McCartney, Williams, Hughes, Nolan, Elliott, Horlock, Johnson, Gillespie, Healy, Feeney. Substitutes: Carroll, Holmes, McCourt, Melaugh, Robinson, McEvilly.
