Shayne Lavery: Blackpool forward set to miss NI qualifiers with hamstring injury

Shayne Lavery was forced off in the first-half of Blackpool's win over Blackburn

Shayne Lavery is "99.9%" certain to miss Northern Ireland's upcoming World Cup qualifiers with a hamstring injury, according to Blackpool boss Neil Critchley.

Lavery, 22, scored the opening goal in Blackpool's Championship win over Blackburn but was forced off through injury after 22 minutes.

NI face Switzerland on 9 October before visiting to Bulgaria three days later.

"We will have to wait and he will have to go for a scan," said Critchley.

"It takes a bit of gloss off the three points, " added Critchley, who also lost Republic of Ireland defender Richard Keogh and captain Chris Maxwell to injury.

Both games are vital contests with Ian Baraclough's side three points behind the second-placed Swiss in Group C and level with Bulgaria, with Italy leading the table by six points.

McCann a doubt with ankle injury

Preston North End midfielder Ali McCann is also a doubt for Northern Ireland's qualifiers after being forced off with a knock in the early stages of Saturday's defeat away to Queen's Park Rangers in the Championship.

"Ali has got an ankle injury and we won't know until tomorrow the severity of it," Preston boss Frankie McAvoy said after the game.

"It was too sore for him to carry on."

Former Linfield forward Lavery has established himself as a regular starter for Northern Ireland over the last number of games.

He notched his first Northern Ireland goal in the 4-1 World Cup qualifiers win over Lithuania last month and has accumulated nine caps for Baraclough's side.

"He is a real threat and his movement is causing defenders a lot of problems," Critchley told BBC Radio Lancashire.