Release Date: 03/09/2010

Author: By Marshall Gillespie

NIGEL Worthington insists Northern Ireland need to make a positive start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign when they play their opening game of Group C in Maribor against Slovenia this evening.

“Like everyone else you want a good start,” stated Worthington. “It doesn’t always happen but we need to go and give it our best shot and perform how we can do.  We know the importance of a good start as you are not then playing catch-up, which is always very important.”

Slovenia were of course in Northern Ireland’s last qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup so the two countries know each other’s capabilities fairly well.  “Whether you have played them or not you still have to be prepared for them. We know each other's game, each other’s players.

“It was two very good games last time round,” he added. “I don’t see it being any different this time. I have the utmost respect for Slovenia. They have been to the World Cup and have good players and are a hard-working team.

“But Northern Ireland also have good players and are a hard working team. If we do what we are good at, as we proved in the last campaign, we can get good results. If we do that on Friday we will get a good result.”

The Slovenian game will be a special night for Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan who will be making his 50^th international appearance and will wear the captain’s armband to mark the occasion.

“Stephen will get his 50th cap and I am absolutely delighted for him,” said the manager.  “He fully deserves it as well. He is a terrific servant, a fantastic professional and great to have around the group.  I have known Stephen for the last three years. What you get from him is a solid performance. He is always there.” 

Northern Ireland, have been struggling lately, having failed to win any of their last 10 games and not managed a goal in their last seven, but Fulham defender Aaron Hughes is unconcerned with the statistics.

“We haven’t focused on it as a group,” said Hughes, who will be winning his 72^nd cap on Friday. “We haven’t mentioned it and we haven’t discussed it in terms of it being a problem.

“We want to score goals and win games, but we don’t want to do that just to break statistics. We want to score and win to get to the Euro finals.  People forget we played two of those games in the summer with a very inexperienced squad,” he added. “The last game in Montenegro we were working on different things for this campaign.

“Ultimately, you learn things from friendlies like that and the fact we didn’t score at the time is irrelevant in the bigger picture.”

Worthington has no reported injuries following last weekend’s club games, though long term injury victims Niall McGinn and George McCartney are missing.

Goalkeeper Maik Taylor is expected to win his 85^th cap just one day short of his 39^th birthday, while Aaron Hughes and Stephen Craigan should renew their central defensive partnership.

The experienced quartet of Chris Brunt, Steve Davis, Sammy Clingan and Grant McCann should all get the nod in midfield, but it is in attack where places will be most sought after with David Healy looking to end his 23-month international barren spell in front of goal.

Slovenia will be a tough nut to crack though, especially at home, where they have won their last six games on the bounce and where they are unbeaten in qualifying matches since November 2007 when they lost 2-0 to Bulgaria.

Stephen Craigan will not be the only player on show making his 50^th appearance, Chris Brunt’s West Brom team mate Robert Koren will also be reaching that impressive milestone.

Around 900 members of the GAWA are expected to be in attendance in the Ljudski Vrt Stadium in Maribor hoping to see Northern Ireland chalk up a first win in an opening away game in the European Championship since 1962 when they beat Poland 2-0.

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