Makeshift defence makes striker’s eyes light up

Norway’s depleted defence has given Conor Washington plenty of encouragement for Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier tomorrow.

The Scandinavians visit Windsor Park at the beginning of a new era under Lars Lagerback without four of the players who started their most recent game against the Czech Republic in November.

Midfielders Alexander Tettey and Per Ciljan Skjelbred have both called time on their international careers while Palermo defender Haitam Aleesami is suspended and Brighton centre-back Vegard Forren is injured.

Stefan Strandberg made the last squad but is injured too while there is no place for fellow defender Martin Linnes, meaning only three of the recognised defenders in the Norwegians’ squad have reached double figures in caps.

“We know a little bit and a lot of the lads aren’t in the squad from the team that’s played,” Washington said of Norway.

“They might have to have a makeshift defence which makes your eyes light up as a striker.

“This is a big game, they’ve got a new manager and they’re going to want to get on some sort of run to steal our spot essentially. It’s really important that at home we put down a marker.

“You’d probably say Germany are going to win the group realistically barring some massive crash from them so second place is where we want to be. We’re exactly where we want to be points-wise and performance-wise up to now.”

On both occasions when Washington has started at Windsor Park – against Slovenia and Belarus – he has scored and his form at QPR has picked up too with four goals in 2017.

With an injury concern over Josh Magennis and Kyle Lafferty still out of favour at Norwich, 24-year-old Washington would appear to be the obvious choice to lead the line for Michael O’Neill.