Hopes for McCartney fitness receding

George McCartney’s hopes of facing England in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday at Old Trafford are rapidly receding.

The 23-year-old Sunderland defender has yet to be involved in any of Northern Ireland’s training sessions since the players assembled at their Cheshire base on Tuesday and missed out again this morning.

The squad have another session later today and it is likely manager Lawrie Sanchez will make a decision then whether to rule McCartney out of his plans.