MIDDLESBROUGH'S Paddy McNair has helped to ease a selection headache for Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill, who is sweating over the possibility of more withdrawals from his injury-hit squad.

Northern Ireland head for San Marino for a Euro 2024 qualifier on Thursday without a number of senior players, with Jonny Evans the latest to be ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Ahead of his first game back, it's the latest blow for O'Neill, who is already without Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans, Liam Boyce, Ali McCann and Shayne Lavery and who could be further hit with doubts over forwards Conor Washington and Conor McMenamin.

In the absence of several of his more experienced players, O'Neill had already talked up the importance of McNair, with the Boro defender encouraged to establish himself as one of the leaders in the squad.

With Evans out, McNair will have been in contention to be handed the captain's armband, but O'Neill has instead made Craig Cathcart, who has 69 caps, skipper.

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McNair's versatility could come in handy for O'Neill, though, as Northern Ireland look to kick-start their qualifying campaign with a win against the minnows. The Northern Ireland boss sees McNair as more of a midfielder but might have to call on the 27-year-old to step-in at the back, where he's played most of his football for Boro this season.

“I think we’re covered at centre-back pretty well,” said O'Neill.

“I look at the options we have. We have Shea Charles and Paddy McNair who are predominantly midfield players but can play in a back three or back four.

“Paddy has been playing there (for Middlesbrough) and Shea played there for (Manchester) City in the under-21 game on Sunday against Manchester United, so those are all situations where I think we’ve got enough cover in there to deal with the absence of Jonny.

“We’re down some senior players, there’s no doubt about that but this gives an opportunity to the younger players and I’m enthused by what I’ve seen.

“It’s a big step for some of them if we ask them to start a game, so we have to be mindful of what we’re asking of the younger players.”

McNair has played in both midfield and at the back during his time at Boro, but current head coach Michael Carrick sees the former Manchester United man as a defender.

McNair had to be patient under Carrick and didn't play a minute in November and December, but took his chance after Dael Fry's Sunderland red card and has started seven of the 10 games since, though dropped to the bench for Saturday's win over Preston.

McNair is one of 10 Boro players away during the international break, with Cameron Archer, Kamil Conteh, Anfernee Dijksteel, Sonny Finch, Marcus Forss, Hayden Hackney, Riley McGree, Aaron Ramsey and Zack Steffen all receiving call-ups.