Nigel Worthington: 'We don't have prolific strikers'

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 05 September 2011

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington bemoans the lack of proven goalscorers available for him to select.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has bemoaned the lack of proven goalscoring centre-forwards available to him at the moment.

The Greens have scored just seven goals from seven Euro 2012 qualifying matches, with their latest blank coming during Friday evening's 1-0 loss at home to Serbia.

Ahead of their must-win match away in Estonia tomorrow night, Worthington has claimed that without the services of the injured Kyle Lafferty, his attacking options are limited.

"Northern Ireland's biggest concern is the front, when Lafferty is out we haven't got another big striker and that's a situation which probably should have been addressed some five, six or even 10 years ago," said Worthington.

"We haven't got a Gerry Armstrong, we haven't got a Norman Whiteside, we haven't got a Billy Hamilton. If you look at those three strikers, in 1982 or 1986, you were able to score goals.

"But we are not prolific goalscorers and we are not going to score two or three goals against quality sides."

Failure to win in Tallinn will end Ireland's chances of qualification.