Northern Ireland defenders Daniel Ballard and Brodie Spencer have been ruled out of upcoming World Cup qualifiers away to Luxembourg and Germany. Ballard was forced off in the first half of Sunderland's 2-0 loss to Burnley, and Spencer was injured in Oxford United's 6-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton. Michael O'Neill is also without goalkeepers Pierce Charles and Conor Hazard, defender Ciaron Brown and midfielder Jordan Thompson. O'Neill called up uncapped trio Kofi Balmer, Ryan Johnson and Jamie McDonnell as cover. Balmer has 20 Under-21 caps and six senior call-ups without appearances. Johnson receives his first senior call after Under-21 involvement. McDonnell is on loan at Mansfield Town from Nottingham Forest. Northern Ireland play Luxembourg on 4 September and Germany on 7 September.
Image source, Getty Images Northern Ireland defenders Daniel Ballard and Brodie Spencer have been ruled out of the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers away to Luxembourg and Germany. Sunderland's Ballard was forced off in the first half of his side's 2-0 loss against Burnley on Saturday, while Spencer was injured in Oxford United's 6-0 Carabao Cup defeat against Brighton on Wednesday.
O'Neill has called up uncapped trio Kofi Balmer, Ryan Johnson and Jamie McDonnell as replacements and further cover. Motherwell defender Balmer, 24, has made 20 appearances for Northern Ireland's Under-21 side and been called up to the senior squad on six occasions without making an appearance. Johnson, a 28-year-old centre-back at League One AFC Wimbledon, receives his first senior call after featuring for Northern Ireland at under-21 level.
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