Peacock-Farrell and Ballard ruled out of NI games

Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Daniel Ballard have both returned to their clubs for treatment

Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and centre-back Daniel Ballard have been ruled out of Northern Ireland's Nations League games against Belarus and Bulgaria.

Birmingham City keeper Peacock-Farrell has a shoulder problem with Sunderland's Ballard unavailable because of an ankle ailment.

Both players have returned to their clubs for treatment from Northern Ireland's base this week of Stockport County's training ground at Carrington in Greater Manchester.

The 49-times capped Peacock-Farrell's absence leaves manager Michael O'Neill short of goalkeeping options with Conor Hazard unavailable because of an ankle injury and the two remaining keepers Luke Southwood and Pierce Charles having just one international cap between them.

Another couple of Northern Ireland players are understood to be carrying knocks but are expected to be available for both games.

Northern Ireland will train at Carrington until Thursday when they travel to Hungary for Saturday's game against Belarus at the neutral venue of Zalaegerszeg.

O'Neill's side will then face Bulgaria at Windsor Park three days later.

“We have a longer lead-in time to this game (against Belarus) than for previous games so we’ve got to make the most of the time we have here," said the Northern Ireland boss.

Northern Ireland began their Nations League campaign last month with a 2-0 victory over Luxembourg in Belfast but then lost 1-0 to Bulgaria in Plovdiv.

O'Neill's side sit third in Group 3 of League C Group - a point behind Belarus and Bulgaria.