Johnson ruled out of NI matches

Damien Johnson has been sidelined by a hamstring injury

Latvia v Northern Ireland
Riga
Saturday, 8 September
Kick-off: 1715 BST
Commentary on BBC Radio Ulster, Coverage on BBC Radio 5live & the BBC Sport website.

Birmingham City midfielder Damien Johnson will miss Northern Ireland's Euro 2008 qualifiers away to Latvia and Iceland because of a hamstring injury.

Skipper Aaron Hughes is also out of Saturday's Latvia match but hopes to have recovered from a knee injury in time to face Iceland four days later.

Fellow defender Tony Capaldi is another major injury concern.

"It frustrating for Damien because the injury is healing slowly," said NI manager Nigel Worthington.

"Hopefully we will have Aaron Hughes available for the Iceland game but Tony Capaldi is a serious doubt after getting injured while playing for Cardiff on Saturday evening."

Earlier Rangers goalkeeper Roy Carroll withdrew from the squad as he wanted to work on rekindling his club career at Ibrox.

Celtic's Michael McGovern has been drafted into the squad while Carroll will remain on standby.

Worthington drafted full-back Tony Kane into his squad at the weekend.

The 22-year-old Blackburn Rovers player decided to switch allegiance from the Republic of Ireland to the country of his birth.

Kane had played in two U21 friendlies for the Republic.