Defenders in the World Cup

Steven Craigan is in the Northern Ireland squad. They have an interesting qualifier on Saturday afternoon, they play England at Old Trafford. If selected, Craigan will be able to match himself against strikers like Defoe, Owen, Heskey and Rooney. Any experience gained against strikers of such quality is bound to benefit our man. Good luck to him.

Former ‘Well favourite Stuart Elliott is also looking forward to facing the English. He is in good form with Hull at the moment and has twenty seven goals to his credit this season. "There is no pressure on us, we can relax. It's David versus Goliath - and we know how that finished."

Northern Ireland then travel to Poland for the next World Cup qualifier on Wednesday 30 March.

Meanwhile David Partridge will be hoping to get a start against Austria – twice. The Welsh have a double header at Cardiff this Saturday and in Vienna next Wednesday. It’s possible that our goal scorer from the CIS final could have Giggs, Bellamy and Hartson as team mates! Again, good luck to David.