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Two Northern Ireland players sent home before qualifiers [Thu Sep 1st, 2005]
Dublin (Reuters) - Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez has sent home Jeff Whitley and Philip Mulryne for missing a curfew ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and England.
"For a player it is the ultimate sanction to be sent home," Sanchez said. "But this is a big week for us and we need everybody to be disciplined and professional in the way they approach these games."
The Cardiff City midfielders were sent home on Wednesday before the Group Six games against Azerbaijan on Saturday and England four days later.
Sanchez drafted in Hibernian winger Ivan Sproule, the scorer of a hat-trick against Scottish champions Rangers last week, Motherwell striker Andy Smith and Burnley defender Michael Duff as replacements.
Northern Ireland are currently fourth in Group Six behind Poland, England and Austria and have yet to win a game.
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