Injury has robbed David Miskelly of his first call-up to Northern Ireland's senior squad. The 22-year-old goalkeeper was wanted as a replacement for Manchester United star Roy Carroll, but he is still recovering from a shoulder operation. Northern Ireland are away to Poland in a friendly this week and Carroll - who was Miskelly's rival at under-21 level - pulled out with a back problem. Obviously unaware of Miskelly's injury, manager Sammy McIlroy spent Sunday night trying to contact him about joining the flight from Heathrow. McIlroy said, “He did all right last year with the under-21s and we need some cover for the bench. I had thought about bringing in Alan Fettis but York have a six-pointer on Tuesday and I thought it was best to leave him.”
Ards-born Miskelly has several age-group caps and, despite a lack of league experience, is clearly seen as having International potential. He would have been a substitute instead of Carroll, but the job now goes to Sunderland 'keeper Michael Ingham. It is a desperately unlucky blow for Miskelly, who faces up to two more months on the sidelines. Called up for his first league game of the season in November, he lasted only 71 minutes against Stoke before badly dislocating his shoulder.