Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has been hit by a raft of withdrawals ahead of the friendly against Albania on Wednesday in Tirana.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is set to reshape his squad in the summer with “significant” additions and “eight or nine players likely to leave” - according to the club’s chief executive Michael Dunford.

SCOTT DANN returned to his home city to remind both Everton and Liverpool just what they missed out on.

Everton, last season’s beaten finalists, fielded the same side that defeated Manchester City last weekend, for this FA Cup fourth round tie at Goodison Park.

Nottingham Forest 0 Birmingham 0

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish will be forced to change his line-up – the first time for eight matches – for the FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground tomorrow.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis made five changes to his side for the Barclays Premier League visit of Birmingham to the Britannia Stadium.

Birmingham 0 Chelsea 0

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti handed Daniel Sturridge his first Barclays Premier League start for the Boxing Day trip to Birmingham.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is hopeful key defenders Roger Johnson and Liam Ridgewell will be fit for the home Barclays Premier League clash with leaders Chelsea on St Stephen's Day.

Birmingham will again be without striker Garry O’Connor and on-loan Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio for the local derby with Wolves at Molineux.

Birmingham’s defensive duo of Franck Queudrue and Stuart Parnaby are available after injury for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland tomorrow.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has kept faith with youngster Vito Mannone in goal for this afternoon’s Premier League clash against Birmingham at Emirates Stadium.

Czech Republic 0 Northern Ireland 0

Birmingham’s crippling injury list means manager Alex McLeish will call upon every fit and able first-team player at his disposal for tonight’s Carling Cup third-round clash against Sunderland.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish does not have the option of resting players ahead of tomorrow’s Carling Cup third-round trip to Sunderland with his squad ravaged by injury.

Alex McLeish insists Birmingham’s treatment room is “bursting at the seams” ahead of Saturday’s trip to Hull.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish handed a debut to Teemu Tainio for the derby clash with Aston Villa.

Northern Ireland 0 Slovakia 2

Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty is facing a race to be fit for the key World Cup qualifier against Slovakia and will have a scan on his knee tomorrow.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish will check on the fitness of left-back Gregory Vignal and striker Cameron Jerome before finalising his side to face Stoke in Saturday’s home Barclays Premier League clash.

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish faces major selection problems ahead of his team’s daunting return to the Barclays Premier League at Manchester United on Sunday.

Northern Ireland 1 Israel 1

Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington handed out four new caps in his starting XI with Chris Casement, Colin Coates, Corry Evans and Stephen Carter all lining up for the first time in a largely inexperienced team to face Italy.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has named 10 uncapped players in his squad for next month's friendly in Italy.

Watford 0 Birmingham 1

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington is trying to remain grounded even though his improving team have made history.

NORTHERN IRELAND manager Nigel Worthington told his players to continue dreaming of a place at the World Cup after Warren Feeney earned them victory over Group Three rivals Slovenia.

Northern Ireland remained a point clear at the top of Group Three in World Cup qualifying with a hard-fought 1-0 defeat of Slovenia.

Northern Ireland 1 Slovenia 0

Damien Johnson is savouring the moment as Northern Ireland build up a head of steam in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Northern Ireland 3 Poland 2

Birmingham midfielder Damien Johnson will captain Northern Ireland when he wins his 50th cap in tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Poland.

Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign is up and running and so too is Damien Johnson.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has told Keith Gillespie he could still have a future on the international stage.

Northern Ireland’s most experienced player Keith Gillespie has been omitted from the squad for the World Cup qualifier against San Marino on February 11.

Birmingham 4 Blackburn 1

Birmingham managing director Karren Brady has today echoed the sentiments of co-owner David Sullivan in insisting manager Alex McLeish will not be sacked.

Birmingham will give late fitness tests to right-back Stephen Kelly and midfielder Mehdi Nafti before finalising the team for tomorrow’s crucial showdown with relegation rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson is poised to return to action for the Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool at St Andrews tomorrow.

Birmingham City will give late fitness tests to striker James McFadden and midfielder Sebastian Larsson before manager Alex McLeish finalises his side for Sunday’s derby at Aston Villa.

Birmingham defenders Franck Queudrue and Liam Ridgewell are available after suspension for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Everton tomorrow.

Birmingham manager Alex Mcleish has held talks with Medhi Nafti over his future - and confirmed the midfielder will return to the side for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Everton.

STEVE BRUCE is as good as certain to be a Premier League manager again next season. His former employers should take note of that, for he might yet achieve it at their expense, and the final cost could run to millions of pounds.