David Healy in for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland striker David Healy has been named in the side to face Slovenia in their first UEFA 2012 European Football Championship qualifying match tonight.
The 31-year-old had spoken of his determination to sparkle for his country after failing to score for the team since October 2008 and toiling at club level with Sunderland in the English Premier League. The country's all-time leading goalscorer will get his chance to prove his doubters wrong after being named alongside Warren Feeney of Oldham in the forward line.
Elsewhere, Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has been ruled out after sustaining a groin injury with Craig Cathcart of Blackpool stepping in to win his first cap.
50th cap for defender
Stephen Craigan, of Scottish Premier League side Motherwell, will mark his landmark 50th appearance for Northern Ireland by captaining the team after Aaron Hughes ceded the responsibility to the 33-year-old defender.
The national team coach Nigel Worthington said he had left it to the pair to decide who will be captain for the crunch match in Maribor and had high praise for the duo.
He told reporters that: “Stephen will get his 50th and I am delighted for him, he fully deserves it. Aaron has been outstanding when it comes to something like this — it is the sign of a good leader. I have known Stephen for the last three years and what you get from him is a solid performance. He is always there – he is a terrific servant, a fantastic professional and great to have around the group."
Rangers midfielder Steven Davis will pick up his 42nd cap, while 38-year-old Birmingham City goalkeeper Maik Taylor will make his 83rd appearance for the national team.
Northern Ireland have not qualified for a major international tournament since the 1986 FIFA World Cup and will face Estonia, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia and Faroe Islands for a place at the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine.
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