Evans boost for Northern Ireland

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 making good progress after suffering from a virus

Jonny Evans is on course to start for Northern Ireland in Saturday's World Cup qualifying game against Slovenia after returning to training.

The Manchester United defender is recovering from a virus.

"Jonny had a nice bright training session and came through that - we will assess him over the next 24 hours," said manager Nigel Worthington.

Goalkeeper Maik Taylor is available after flu while Kyle Lafferty is set to return in attack alongside David Healy.

Lafferty's Rangers team-mate Steven Davis is also expected to be back in the side after missing the draw with the Czech Republic.

Davis is likely to be partnered in midfield by Chris Baird who played alongside Sammy Clingan against the Czech Republic.

Gareth McAuley is set to come into the defence while Martin Paterson and Grant McCann should be vying for a place in the left of midfield.

Worthington added: "Jonny has had a rough week. He was very poorly on Tuesday and wasn't able to travel with us the following day.

"He had a slack day on Thursday and then was well enough to return to the group."

Evans' availablity would be a huge boost 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.

Worthington already has 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 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).