PORT VALE's Jon McCarthy will be given a key role for Northern Ireland when they meet Armenia in Group Nine in Yerevan.

Manager Bryan Hamilton intends using him wide on the right as a replacement for suspended Newcastle man Keith Gillespie. "The loss of Gillespie and for that matter West Ham's Michael Hughes is a major problem for us," said Hamilton yesterday. "McCarthy, however, has experience of this position and he should fit in perfectly to our plan."

Manchester City's Kevin Horlock will come in for Hughes on the left, having made a decisive impact at Maine Road since his move from Swindon. Hamilton will not name his team until noon today.

Hamilton, who has studied videos of Armenia's recent matches, will adopt a 4-4-2 system - going for goals but yet keeping it tight defensively.

Alan Fettis, the Nottingham Forest reserve goalkeeper, comes in for Tommy Wright and the back four will be built around Leicester's Colin Hill and Bolton's Gerry Taggart, a strong contender for the captaincy. West Ham's lain Dowie and James Quinn of Blackpool will lead the attack.