Northern Ireland face Bulgaria in a World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park on June 2nd, less than 24 hours after the under-21s will have played on the same pitch.

However, the state of the pitch is the least of McIlroy's worries compared to the extent his squad has been ravaged by injury. Jim Magilton, Jon McCarthy and Gerry Taggart have joined long-term absentee Steve Lomas on the sidelines.

Northern Ireland (squad to play Bulgaria on June 2nd and the Czech Republic on June 6th): Carroll (Wigan), Taylor (Fulham), A Hughes (Newcastle), Williams (Wimbledon), Murdock (Preston), Griffin (Dundee Utd), Nolan (Bradford), Elliott (Motherwell), Lennon (Celtic), Johnson (Blackburn), Gillespie (Blackburn), M Hughes (Wimbledon), Whitley (Man City), Mulryne (Norwich), Kennedy (Watford), Healy (Preston), Kirk (Hearts), Ferguson (Linfield), Quinn (West Brom).