Baird to skipper NI

Baird: Northern Ireland captain

Chris Baird will captain the Northern Ireland team in Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Liechtenstein.

The defender has been given the role due to the absence of his injured Fulham team-mate Aaron Hughes.

Baird has won 25 caps for his country and he will lead out the side for a game which could see Northern Ireland reclaim second spot in qualifying Group F.

New coach Nigel Worthington has also been forced to make two changes to his squad for the match at Windsor Park.

Birmingham City midfielder Damien Johnson is out with a hamstring injury, while Manchester United defender Jonny Evans is missing with a groin complaint.

Worthington has called on Stuart Elliott of Hull City and Sean Webb of Ross County to plug the gaps.

Northern Ireland won the away meeting with Liechtenstein 4-1 in March, with the qualifying programme's top scorer David Healy bagging a hat-trick.