Soccer: Northern Irish ravaged by injuries

Northern Ireland's squad for the World Cup double-header against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria next month has been ravaged by injury before a ball has even been kicked.

Jim Magilton, Jon McCarthy and Gerry Taggart have joined long-term absentee Steve Lomas on the sidelines.

Ipswich have booked Magilton in for an operation on veins in his legs, while Taggart has been ruled out because of knee surgery and McCarthy broke his leg in the play-offs against Preston.

Kevin Horlock has just recovered from his broken ankle, but is excluded because he is not match fit.

Just to add to McIlroy's woes, Mark Williams is suspended for the first match against Bulgaria at Windsor Park on June 2.

One the positive front, Jeff Whitley should be fit despite needing stitches in a leg wound on Saturday and Norwich's Philip Mulryne is back from injury.

Manager Sammy McIlroy has freshened up his strikers and Adrian Coote and Phil Gray are left out and West Brom's James Quinn returns.

Full Northern Ireland Under-21 squad to play Bulgaria on June 1 at Windsor Park and the Czech Republic in Prague on June 5:

Miskelly (Oldham), Ingham (Sunderland), Holmes (Man City), Kelly (Derry City), McCartney (Sunderland), Simms (Hartlepool), Ferguson (Glentoran), Friars (Ipswich), Graham (QPR), McFlynn (QPR), Scates (Linfield), McCann (West Ham), Toner (Tottenham), Boyle (Leeds), Carlisle (Crystal Palace), Hamilton (Raufoss), Harkin (Wycombe), Feeney (Bournemouth).