Ballard & Spencer out of NI’s World Cup qualifiers

Daniel Ballard and Brodie Spencer, both from Northern Ireland, are ruled out of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Luxembourg.

Ballard was forced off in Sunderland’s 2-0 defeat against Burnley on Saturday, while Spencer was hurt in Oxford United’s 6-0 Carabao Cup loss against Brighton on Wednesday.

Due to injury, manager Michael O’Neill is already without goalkeepers Pierce Charles and Conor Hazard, defender Ciaron Brown, and midfielder Jordan Thompson.

O’Neill has replaced Kofi Balmer, Ryan Johnson, and Jamie McDonnell with additional cover.

Balmer, 24, has made 20 appearances for Northern Ireland’s Under-21 team and six times have been called up to the senior squad without making an appearance.

After playing for Northern Ireland at under-21 level, Johnson, a 28-year-old center-back at League One AFC Wimbledon, is called up for a senior call.

McDonnell, a player from Ireland’s Premier League side Nottingham Forest, signed him from Premier League side Mansfield Town in 2020 after moving him from Irish Premiership side Glentoran in 2020.

He has represented his nation at the under-17 and under-21 levels.

On Thursday, September 4, Northern Ireland will kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign in Luxembourg.