Northern Ireland were dealt another injury blow today when Manchester United defender Jonny Evans became the fourth player to withdraw from manager Nigel Worthington’s squad.
Retiring captain Aaron Hughes (groin) was first to pull out of what would have been a farewell appearance at Windsor Park in Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Estonia, as well as the clash in Italy four days later.
He was quickly followed by strikers Josh McQuoid (virus) and Jamie Ward (hamstring), and Worthington today confirmed Evans is also out of the matches with an ankle problem.