Trio ruled out of NI qualifiers

World Cup 2010 qualifying Group Three: Slovenia v Northern Ireland
Venue: Maribor Date: Saturday, 11 October Kick-off: 1945 BST Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Ulster, Updates on BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5 Live

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Craigan with Nigel Worthington after the draw against the Czechs

Sammy Clingan, Stephen Craigan and Michael Duff have all been ruled out of Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and San Marino.

Clingan suffered a recurrence of his recent shoulder injury in Norwich City's defeat by Derby on Saturday.

Motherwell defender Craigan has pulled out because of a pelvic injury while Burnley's Duff has a stomach strain.

Chris Brunt withdrew last week because of injury while Ryan McGivern has been called up as a replacement.

Scunthorpe's Grant McCann was drafted into the squad last week after Brunt's withdrawal because of a hamstring injury.

Manchester City youngster McGivern earned his first cap in the friendly against Scotland in August, when he picked up a red card.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington can ill-afford any further withdrawals ahead of Saturday's game against Slovenia in Maribor.

His side then face group minnows San Marino at Windsor Park four days later.

"It's always disappointing to lose players but there's not a lot you can do about it," Worthington told BBC Sport.

San Marino, 200th in the world rankings, should present little difficulty in Belfast but 67th-rated Slovenia will be no pushover for a Northern Ireland team with notoriously poor away form.

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Northern Ireland squad:

Goalkeepers: M Taylor (Birmingham City), A Mannus (Linfield), J Tuffey (Partick Thistle).

Defenders: C Baird (Fulham), R McGivern (Manchester City), G McAuley (Ipswich Town), J Evans (Manchester United), G McCartney (Sunderland), A Hughes (Fulham).

Midfielders: S Davis (Rangers), K Gillespie (Sheffield United), M O'Connor (Crewe Alexandra), G McCann (Scunthorpe), D Shiels (Hibernian).

Forwards: D Healy (Sunderland), P Thompson (Stockport County), W Feeney (Cardiff City - on loan at Dundee United), M Paterson (Burnley), K Lafferty (Rangers).