Paul Smyth will miss Northern Ireland's opening World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany after sustaining an injury following his goal for QPR in a 3-1 win over Charlton. Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons is a major doubt after picking up a knock in a 2-2 draw with Motherwell. Manager Michael O'Neill faces a stretched squad already without goalkeepers Pierce Charles and Conor Hazard, defenders Daniel Ballard, Brodie Spencer and Ciaron Brown, and midfielder Jordan Thompson. Uncapped players Kofi Balmer, Ryan Johnson and Jamie McDonnell were called in as replacements. Northern Ireland travel to Luxembourg on 4 September and to Cologne on 7 September.
Paul Smyth will miss Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany through injury. Winger Smyth was injured after scoring for QPR in their 3-1 Championship win against Charlton Athletic on Saturday. Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons is also a major doubt after he picked up a knock in his side's 2-2 draw with Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. NI boss Michael O'Neill is already contending with a long injury list in this international window.
"Naturally we're disappointed to have these injuries but we have a good, young, resilient squad and we're looking forward to testing ourselves against good opposition this week," O'Neill said in a squad update issued by the IFA on Monday. Uncapped trio Kofi Balmer, Ryan Johnson and Jamie McDonnell were called into the squad on Friday as replacements for Ballard and Spencer, but there are no further additions to the squad after Smyth's withdrawal. Northern Ireland begin their World Cup qualifying campaign in Luxembourg on Thursday, 4 September. They travel to Cologne to take on Germany in their second Group A game on Sunday, 7 September.
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