BAD NEWS ON DOC FOR MARTIN..

MATT DOHERTY is out of tonight’s friendly clash with Northern Ireland and Monday’s Nations League test in Denmark.

Wolves defender Doherty saw a specialist in England on Tuesday after suffering a facial injury at the weekend.

The wing-back shipped an elbow to the head in his club’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday and had not linked up with the Irish squad in Dublin this week.

Martin O’neill said: “It’s a blow to us and to him. We’ll make some adjustments and we might change formation.

“But that sort of position, we’re as strong as we’ll ever be with Seamus back and Cyrus playing in a number of positions. It softens the blow.”

Preston midfielder Alan Browne is a doubt for both games because of a shoulder injury but had not been ruled out as of last night.

Southampton striker Shane Long and Blackburn Rovers defender Derrick Williams both pulled out with injuries at the start of the week.

Robbie Brady is set for his first Ireland appearance in a year after returning from a serious knee injury.

Brady is raring to go and O’neill said: “I’m not surprised. Robbie thought he would be fit enough to play for Burnley’s games two months before he did.

“He will play some part in the game and we’ll assess it after that.”

Glenn Whelan will captain the team on what is set to be his international swansong on his 85th appearance.