Skipper Gareth McAuley is the only member of the Town squad involved with his national side this weekend. Northern Ireland are in Maribor on Saturday to face Slovenia in a World Cup qualifier (Setanta Sports One, 7.40pm).

McAuley is likely to be on the bench unless Manchester United youngster Jonny Evans fails to recover from a virus in time for the match.

Northern Ireland also take on San Marino at Windsor Park next Wednesday. McAuley has previously won 11 full caps.

Veliche Shumulikoski's Macedonian have to wait until Wednesday for their Group Nine World Cup qualifier with Iceland in Reykjavik.

Also in midweek, Alex Bruce and Owen Garvan will be in action with the Irish full and U21 squads respectively, if the defender recovers from the abductor injury he sustained in the fringe challenge match with Nottingham Forest on Thursday.

The U21 squad travel to Lithuania for a friendly on Tuesday, while the full side face Cyprus at Croke Park in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

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