Gillespie recovery boost for North

NORTHERN IRELAND manager Sammy McIlroy got a real boost yesterday when Keith Gillespie linked up with the squad at their London base.

The Leicester winger's fitness was in doubt because of ankle injury which he sustained in the game against Armenia last month.

However, he suffered no reaction after playing the final 13 minutes on Saturday at Fulham.

It was just the news McIlroy wanted, with three midfielders already ruled out of the Euro 2004 qualifier against Greece in Athens on Saturday.

Damien Johnson is suspended, while Phil Mulryne and Tommy Doherty are injured.

Striker Paul McVeigh and Grant McCann have also withdrawn from the squad to face the Group Six leaders.

McIlroy said: "Keith is all right. That is a big boost for us with all the people who are missing.

"He started training again last week at Leicester, which is good.

"We will be looking at him between now and give him a chance right up until Saturday.

"I have had a word with the lad and he is fine there are really no problems," he said.

Sunderland midfielder Jeff Whitley and Wrexham defender Shaun Holmes were called up at the beginning of the week to join the squad.

Whitley is back in the squad for the first time in over two years he last played against Norway in February 2001.

His career his on the rise again after he secured a contract at Sunderland in the summer following a successful trial period.

He made his name at Manchester City before loan spells at Wrexham and Notts County.

Whitley said: "Getting the call was totally unexpected.

"This is a real bonus for me."

The squad set off today for Athens to finalise their preparations for the match, which is being held at the home of Panathinaikos, the Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium.