BBC SPORT 01 Jun 04 12:24 13:24 UK
  

Doherty out of NI squad

Bristol City midfielder Tommy Doherty is out of Northern Ireland's remaining Caribbean tour games.

Doherty was scheduled to link up with Lawrie Sanchez's squad for Wednesday's game against St Kitts & Nevis and Saturday's match in Trinidad.

However, he picked up a knock in Bristol City's Division Two play-off defeat by Brighton on Sunday.

Sunderland's Jeff Whitley, however, has joined up with the squad after missing Sunday's 1-1 draw in Barbados.

Whitley was unavailable for the Bridgetown as he was on best man duty at his brother Jim's wedding.

The Northern Ireland party received a big welcome when they arrived in St Kitts on Monday evening.

A reception took place at the airport and the country's minister for sport was among those who welcomed Sanchez's squad.

Northern Ireland will become the first European national team to play in St Kitts & Nevis when the game takes place on Wednesday.

However, Sanchez isn't expecting the opposition to be any easier than Sunday's Barbados encounter.

"Barbados was very competitive. They played a good game and I think that we will face that throughout this tour," said Sanchez.

"St Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago will play very hard as well."

"Every team is trying to get the best possible preparation for their World Cup qualifiers so there are no easy games."

Sanchez is looking to extend his side's unbeaten run which takes in Sunday's result and a win over Estonia and a draw with Serbia & Montenegro.

"I don't know a lot about St Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago but we are going there to try and win the games," he said.

"We haven't lost in our last three internationals and we hope to keep it that way.

"The players are coming together nicely. I like what I am seeing but there is still a lot of work to be done.

"We hope to keep getting things right on this tour and I think these games will help to provide us with the necessary practice we need just before our qualifiers."


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RELATED TO THIS STORY:

Sanchez happy with draw (31 May 04  |  Northern Ireland )
Barbados 1-1 Northern Ireland (31 May 04  |  Northern Ireland )

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