Northern Ireland Men's Football Team

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Northern Ireland defenders Daniel Ballard and Brodie Spencer have been ruled out of the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers away to Luxembourg and Germany.

Sunderland's Ballard was forced off in the first half of his side's 2-0 loss against Burnley on Saturday, while Spencer was injured in Oxford United's 6-0 Carabao Cup defeat against Brighton on Wednesday.

It is a further blow for boss Michael O'Neill, who is already without goalkeepers Pierce Charles and Conor Hazard as well as defender Ciaron Brown and midfielder Jordan Thompson through injury.

O'Neill has called up uncapped trio Kofi Balmer, Ryan Johnson and Jamie McDonnell as replacements and further cover.

Motherwell defender Balmer, 24, has made 20 appearances for Northern Ireland's Under-21 side and been called up to the senior squad on six occasions without making an appearance.

Johnson, a 28-year-old centre-back at League One AFC Wimbledon, receives his first senior call after featuring for Northern Ireland at under-21 level.

Midfielder McDonnell is currently on loan at League One side Mansfield Town from Premier League side Nottingham Forest, who took the 21-year-old from Irish Premiership side Glentoran in 2020.

He has represented his country at under-17 and under-21 level.

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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Defender Daniel Ballard is set to miss Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany next month through injury.

The 25-year-old was forced off during the first half of Sunderland’s 2-0 defeat against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Speaking after the Black Cats’ Carabao Cup loss against Huddersfield on Tuesday, their boss Regis Le Bris said while the concern was not "long-term", Ballard does face a spell on the sidelines.

"It's not too serious so we expect him to be out for two to three weeks," he told the club’s website.

Northern Ireland are away to Luxembourg on 4 September and face Germany in Cologne three days later.

Michael O’Neill is already without first-choice goalkeeper Pierce Charles, who pulled out of the squad after injuring his shoulder when in action for Sheffield Wednesday.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Crystal Palace's penalty hero Justin Devenny had no doubt he would convert the decisive spot-kick as the Eagles beat Liverpool to win the FA Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international was introduced late in the game with the sides locked at 2-2 and had an opportunity to snatch the win in normal time but his effort from the edge of the box went just wide.

In the shootout, the teams were again level at 2-2 when the midfielder stepped up and found the top corner of goalkeeper Alisson's net to secure another piece of silverware for the London club, who won the FA Cup last season.

"It was a long walk up to the penalty spot, but I was confident and believed in myself," Devenny told BBC Sport after the game.

"The keeper was trying to take as long as he can for me to get set up, but I just waited, believed in myself, put the ball down and I knew where I was going - thankfully it went in.

"I had the chance in the game to win it, but I won it in the end, so I'm happy about that."

Scotland-born Devenny came through the youth system at Kilmarnock before a move to Airdrieonians preceded his switch to Crystal Palace in 2023.

Last season he featured 28 times for the Premier League outfit, putting his rapid rise down to work ethic and family support.

"If you put in that work, I believe anyone can get there," said Devenny who has been capped five times for Northern Ireland.

"My family have been there from the start. There's been a lot of sacrifices made by them, so for me to repay them is a special feeling."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Northern Ireland captain Trai Hume has challenged his team-mates to carry lessons from friendlies forward into "the games that matter".

Michael O'Neill's side played 33 minutes with 10 men in Tuesday's 1-0 win over Iceland in their final friendly before World Cup qualifying begins in September.

Northern Ireland travel to Luxembourg and Germany in their opening qualifiers, and also face Slovakia in Group A.

"They are the games that matter. We are starting the campaign off with two away games so it is going to be tough," said Sunderland defender Hume.

"We want to have a good start and hopefully get a win in the first game."

Isaac Price's opener gave Northern Ireland the lead in a low-key first half at Windsor Park but Brodie Spencer was dismissed for a last-man tackle in the 57th minute.

"It's one of those things you can't control, but it's good to have that experience as a team. We stuck together and thankfully got the win," added Hume.

"It's tough no matter what level playing with 10 men. You have to run that wee bit extra and put in hard work.

"You never know if that is going to happen in competitive games so it is good to have that experience especially as a young group."

After joining from Irish Premiership side Linfield in 2022, Hume played a key role for Sunderland as they dramatically secured promotion to the Premier League in the play-off final.

The 23-year-old said he is "really excited" about playing in the Premier League.

"I'm probably not looking forward to pre-season as much because it's going to be that wee bit tougher but that's part and parcel of it.

"I'll have to work harder than I have before because I'm stepping up a level and playing in the best league in the world. It will be tough but I'm excited.

"It is a challenge I know me and my team-mates at Sunderland are looking forward to and hopefully we can get going."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Justin Devenny says Northern Ireland's gritty 1-0 win over Iceland will give the team momentum heading into September's World Cup qualifiers.

Isaac Price netted the opener in the first half but the game turned when Brodie Spencer was sent off for a last-man tackle with 33 minutes to play.

The ten men of Northern Ireland dug deep and ground out a win in their final friendly before they take on Luxembourg and Germany in September.

It was only the third time a Northern Ireland team have won a game with 10 players and the first time since the 1982 World Cup against Spain.

"I think good teams win when they're up against it or when they've got a man sent off," said Crystal Palace's Devenny, 21.

"We stuck together, which I think is key to this group. The togetherness is amazing. Everyone's there for each other.

"Everyone's going to go above and beyond for each other. It's great to have that within a squad and I think that's what brings us up to that next level."

Devenny said that the 10 men of Northern Ireland "dug deep" and that will stand by Michael O'Neill's young team come the qualifiers.

"It might not have been the prettiest game, but we got the result which we wanted.

"On the park, everyone's there talking to each other, making sure everyone's doing their jobs.

"That starts from Pierce all the way up to the striker. Everyone's good at that, to be fair."

Northern Ireland start their qualifying campaign in September with trips to Luxembourg and Germany, and than face Slovakia in October's window.

"We have got the qualifiers coming up and we're all focused on that now but I think this was an important camp to get the group together, try and build momentum because we're going to have tough games."