Sunday, December 22, 2024

NI’s Thompson and Spencer to miss double-header

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Jordan Thompson and Brodie Spencer will not be available to Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill [Getty Images]

Jordan Thompson and Brodie Spencer have been ruled out of Northern Ireland’s Nations League double-header against Luxembourg and Bulgaria.

Stoke midfielder Thompson has a calf problem which has caused him to miss the Potters’ last two games, while Spencer injured his shoulder against Shrewsbury last week.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill has not called up replacements for Thompson and Spencer.

O’Neill has also confirmed that goalkeeper Conor Hazard is being assessed by his club Plymouth after picking up an injury, while defender Eoin Toal has joined the squad despite missing Bolton’s game at the weekend.

Full-back Jamal Lewis, who is in Brazil to finalise a move from Newcastle to Sao Paulo, is expected to join up with the squad later this week.

The departures of Thompson and Spencer leave O’Neill with a 23-man squad for this month’s games.

Northern Ireland host Luxembourg in their C3 opener in Belfast on Thursday (19:45 BST) and face Bulgaria in Plovdiv on Sunday (17:00 BST).

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