Charlie Nicholas backs West Bromwich Albion defender Gareth McAuley to score for Northern Ireland against Azerbaijan in the 2018 World Cup qualifier.
Former Celtic and Arsenal forward Charlie Nicholas has predicted on Skysports.com that West Bromwich Albion defender Gareth McAuley will score for Northern Ireland this evening.
Northern Ireland will take on Azerbaijan at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group C game.
McAuley, who is 36 years of age, is likely to feature, and Nicholas has predicted the West Brom defender to score.
“Azerbaijan are awkward and sit in and frustrate successfully, they’ve recorded three successive clean sheets, but I’m going for Gareth McAuley, whose scoring record is brilliant, to see the hosts get the win,” Nicholas wrote on Skysports.com.
A footnote added: “Charlie predicts: 1-0 and McAuley to score.”
Northern Ireland are third in Group C with four points from three matches, three points behind second-placed Azerbaijan.
Michael O’Neill’s side will head into the match as favourites and should be able to eke out a narrow victory.
Meanwhile, West Brom find themselves 11th in the Premier League table with just 13 points from 11 matches.
The Baggies are only three points above the relegation zone and are in danger of getting relegated to the Championship at the end of the season.
Tony Pulis’s side will take on Burnley at The Hawthorns in the Premier League after the international break.
| Passing Accuracy | Tackles Won | Interceptions Won | Ball Recovery | Headers Won | Outfielder Blocks | Effective Clearances | Appearances | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gareth McAuley | 65% | 14 | 20 | 45 | 31 | 9 | 58 | 11 | 990 |
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