Evans doubtful for Slovenia match

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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Jonny Evans is doubtful because of a virus

Jonny Evans is doubtful for Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying game against Slovenia on Saturday.

The Manchester United defender is suffering from a virus and did not travel with the squad on Wednesday.

Evans may yet join up with the rest of the panel and manager Nigel Worthington is monitoring his situation.

Goalkeeper Maik Taylor has a bout of flu and has not trained with the squad but did travel to Slovenia and is confident that he will be fit to play.

"Maik has had the flu for a few days now but should be ok," said the Northern Ireland manager.

"I spoke to Jonny on Wednesday morning and he still doesn't feel great but I'm hoping he will fly out and join us before Saturday's game.

"In an ideal world, we would like him to be out with us on Wednesday night but we will have to see how he feels."

Evans' absence would be a huge blow to Northern Ireland as he has earned rave reviews for his recent performances in an international shirt, most particularly against the Czech Republic last month.

It would also leave Worthington with limited defensive options, given the absence of Stephen Craigan and Michael Duff who withdrew from the squad at the weekend.

Sammy Clingan, Craigan and Duff are all ruled out of the qualifiers against Slovenia in Maribor on Saturday and the game at home to San Marino four days later.

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.

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).