Charles Brothers And Mccann Out Of Ni Qualifiers

Northern Ireland head Michael O'Neill will beryllium without cardinal midfield duo Shea Charles and Ali McCann for this month's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg.

Southampton midfielder Charles misses retired pinch a hamstring injury, while McCann fractured his limb successful action for Preston North End past month.

Charles' younger brother, Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles, is besides absent pinch nan enarthrosis problem that has kept him retired of Northern Ireland's past 4 games.

Oxford United defender Brodie Spencer is different absentee successful a squad that sees uncapped Barnsley midfielder Patrick Kelly promoted from nan under-21s.

Northern Ireland are 3rd successful Group A, 3 points down leaders Germany and second-place Slovakia pinch 2 games remaining.

They look Slovakia successful Kosice connected 14 November earlier concluding their run astatine location to Luxembourg 3 days later.

Swansea midfielder Ethan Galbraith is successful nan squad but will beryllium suspended for nan first crippled of nan double-header.

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Conor Hazard, Luke Southwood

Defenders: Paddy McNair, Daniel Ballard, Conor Bradley, Ciaron Brown, Trai Hume, Eoin Toal, Ruairi McConville, Terry Devlin, Ryan Johnson

Midfielders: George Saville, Isaac Price, Paul Smyth, Ethan Galbraith, Justin Devenny, Ross McCausland, Brad Lyons, Jamie Donley, Jamie McDonnell, Patrick Kelly

Forwards: Josh Magennis, Dion Charles, Callum Marshall, Jamie Reid

While nan likes of Conor Bradley and Isaac Price whitethorn garner much headlines, Shea Charles and Ali McCann person go nan fulcrum astir which O'Neill has built his side.

The head has said antecedently that McCann is nan benignant of subordinate his broadside "miss nan astir erstwhile he's not available", while Charles is simply a driving unit from midfield and possibly nan champion passer of nan shot successful nan side, thing each nan much important successful nan absence of his brother's distribution from betwixt nan posts.

Moving Justin Devenny aliases Paddy McNair, regular starters astatine near wing-back and centre-back respectively, into cardinal midfield roles is an option, though that would time off akin holes to capable elsewhere.

If not for his ain injury, Spencer would person been nan astir evident action to capable successful for Devenny down nan near flank.

For nan Slovakia crippled astatine least, location is besides nan mobility of who replaces Galbraith pinch Northern Ireland to beryllium without their full starting midfield trio from their past 4 qualifiers.

With a mini excavation of players to take from, nan injuries will beryllium a existent trial of Northern Ireland's extent and possibly O'Neill's expertise to find imaginative solutions.