McIlroy: We need to break scoring famine

Sammy McIlroy knows his Northern Ireland team need to break a scoring famine tomorrow if their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign is to gather momentum.

McIlroy’s team failed to find the net for a fourth successive time at the weekend when Spain chalked up a 3-0 victory in Albacete.

Spain had also inflicted a 5-0 defeat in April and friendlies against Liechtenstein and Cyprus finished in goalless draws.

Ukraine displayed their scoring prowess at the weekend with victory over Greece.

That is the kind of habit McIlroy wants his players to rediscover at Windsor Park.

“Of course it is a concern that we have not got goals in recent games,” said McIlroy.

“You have got to score if you are to win matches. The sooner this run stops the better.

“We have got to go into this game in a positive frame of mind but we will have to be disciplined as well.”

McIlroy could start with David Healy of Preston and Paul McVeigh of Norwich up front.

Healy has scored eight goals for his country while McVeigh has amassed a similar tally for his club this season.

With Willem 11 striker James Quinn returning to Holland with a virus, Hearts’ Andy Kirk is McIlroy’s only other natural striking option.

Healy was on the bench at the weekend with Keith Gillespie reverting from midfielder to lone striker.

“David is up for it, “ said McIlroy.

“He is looking forward to the Ukraine game.

“It was a technical decision to go with Gillespie, who was superb against Spain.”

Wimbledon midfielder Michael Hughes might be another option. He was able to train with the rest of the squad after buying new boots.

His original pair were lost in transit causing him to miss yesterday’s session.

McIlroy’s main problems lie with his lack of defensive options ahead of this group six game.

Gerry Taggart, Danny Griffin, Mark Williams and Peter Kennedy have all been ruled out through injury.

Midfielder Kevin Horlock played left-back in today’s training session with George McCartney switching to the right.

Aaron Hughes and Colin Murdock were in the middle – although McIlroy says the formation is not set in stone.

“I will have another look in training tomorrow,” he said.

“They are a few things I am still working on.”

The Ukraine squad arrived in Belfast today and will be looking to build on their defeat of Greece.

That victory came at a price, however, with midfielders Sergiy Serebrennikov and Hennedii Moroz ruled out with knee and groin injuries respectively.

McIlroy has been handed a video and a report of that game and will run through it with the players.

“We always knew this was going to be a difficult match, especially coming after Spain,” he said.

“By all accounts Greece were a bit unlucky. But I think of the two sides, Ukraine have the edge overall.”

N Ireland (probable team): Taylor (Fulham), McCartney (Sunderland), A Hughes (Newcastle), Murdock (Preston), Horlock (Man City), Johnson (Birmingham), Lomas (West Ham), Mulryne (Norwich), Gillespie (Blackburn), McVeigh (Norwich), Healy (Preston).