Worthington wants fit first-teamers

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington is calling on the majority of his players to try to get first-team football – even if it means moving clubs.

Worthington believes that is the only way the province will be able to move forward.

He is alarmed by the fact that up to 16 of his players players are warming the bench or sitting in the stands on match day for their clubs.

As his team prepared to face the Czech Republic tonight, he said: “To go and play our way at a high tempo with good quality, some of our players can’t do that in two games in four days.

“That’s been most evident on the couple of occasions where we’ve had double-headers. In the first game the performance level would be very good, the energy levels were first class – and the next game, energy levels had dropped.

“I can do nothing about that, because players are tied to clubs and they come to the international set-up.

“My message to the players is that if you’re not in your club teams, work hard to get in it or get yourself out.

“It doesn’t only affect them as the individual; it affects us as an international team, and that’s something that’s been ongoing in the campaign.

“You can live with three or four floating around outside the first teams at their clubs. But you can’t have 15 or 16 – that’s a huge amount, it really is.”

On a positive note, Worthington has secured the long-term futures of three of his senior players.

Captain Aaron Hughes, goalkeeper Maik Taylor and Stephen Craigan have all agreed to continue their international careers after talks with the former Norwich boss.

Hughes is set to win his 70th cap in Prague, and Worthington said: “One word sums Aaron up, and that is professional.

“He is a fantastic leader, sets the right examples and goes about his business in a very controlled and quiet manner.”

Even though Taylor is playing second fiddle to Joe Hart at Birmingham, Hughes has nothing but praise for the 38-year-old – and recalled his performance in the victory over England.

He said: “We can all remember that game and David Healy’s goal. But Frank Lampard had a shot with five minutes to go that Maik tipped around the post.

“It was given as a goal kick. If it had been a corner he might have been given a bit of credit. He has been a massive presence.

“Stephen is like Maik. They are good solid pros and level-headed guys.

“Stephen is easy to play with, because you know what he is going to do. Everything that is expected of him, he delivers.”

Northern Ireland’s hopes of making the play-offs are all but over, because Slovenia only need a point against San Marino to finally dash their hopes.

The home defeat by Slovakia cost the province dear. However, Worthington is determined to finish on a high note.

He added: “We will have 2000 supporters and we owe them a performance after what happened at Windsor Park.”