Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland guide: Odds, team news, kick-off time, TV channel, betting tips, form, statistics & history

The qualifying clash in European Group C kicks off at 1700 BST at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium, live on Sky Sports 4. 

Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland match pack contents
1. Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland team news
2. Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland manager quotes
3. Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland betting tips
4. Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland Opta facts
5. Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland Sky Bet odds

Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland: Team news

Northern Ireland will be without Craig Cathcart when they travel to Baku for the World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan.

The Watford defender was not involved in Friday's friendly against New Zealand, after joining up with Michael O'Neill's squad just over 24 hours ago.

After being assessed by the medical staff, it was decided that Cathcart's knee injury would rule him out of their Group C away trip to Azerbaijan.

Liam Boyce, who scored the only goal of the match against the Kiwis, was taken off as a precaution at Windsor Park after feeling tightness in his hip flexor.

However, the Ross County player should be fit for the match on Saturday, June 10.

But it still means Northern Ireland will be without eight of their squad of 23 for the crucial game.

In addition to Cathcart's absence, also missing are Paddy McNair, Corry Evans, Chris Baird, Will Grigg, Jamie Ward and Luke McCullough. Conor Washington is another non-traveller as he is getting married.

But Gareth McAuley is expected to return to the squad after receiving treatment back at West Brom. 

Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland: Manager quotes

Robert Prosinecki (Azerbaijan)

On facing Northern Ireland: "We are fully focused on the Northern Ireland game," he said in quotes reported by the Belfast Telegraph.

"We believe this match will be decisive in terms of our chances for qualification to the next phase. That's why we are preparing so seriously. The Austrian camp will help us get ready for Northern Ireland. It is such an important game for us."

On Brazilian-born Almeida: "I hope they will be afraid of this player because he is one of the players that will play. I can't say they would be afraid of only Almeida because tomorrow we will play 11 players. Also, we have the support of our fans. I know that fans from Northern Ireland are so loud but we believe in our fans.

"I couldn't say that Almeida will be better than other players but yes it will be his first game for the national team. Other players play with him in Qarabag, his club mates, and they can understand each other. I hope all of those could play.

"We haven't forgotten that loss in Belfast. It will be difficult again for us tomorrow and I hope we can do our best to show a good game.

"We've watched Northern Ireland matches against other teams. But we don't think about them making surprises, our aim is playing our game. It's a very important game for us."

Michael O'Neill (Northern Ireland)

On highly-regarded Richard Almeida: "Regarding Richard Almeida, we have watched him play for his club, we know this will be his first game for Azerbaijan and we respect his quality as a player.

"But tomorrow night he will play against three midfielder players who play in the English Premier League so they play against Brazilians, Argentinians, Spanish, Italians. I think the best Brazilians don't always play in Azerbaijan."

On Kyle Lafferty: "The main thing for Kyle is he's happy.

"He needs to play. The last three years have been very, very frustrating for him with his opportunities at first-team level.

"In his defence, it's not like you can turn around and say he's been given a lot of chances. It's not like he's played loads and not scored - he's not played many games.

"He's scored a few goals but his opportunities have been very limited, certainly at Norwich. The loan spells at Birmingham and at Rizespor served a purpose but they didn't really go possibly as well as what he may have liked.

"It's very difficult when you go on loan in the second half of the season after you've not played in the first half; you're kind of playing catch up. That was part of the problem he had in the two loan spells.

"He needs to go somewhere where first of all he's happy that he's valued and if you make Kyle feel like that, he'll do well for you, simple as that.

"If he goes to a club that really want him, really value him and he makes the right decision in terms of the move he makes, I've no doubts he'll be a good signing for any club." 

On Jonny Evans: "Jonny's very bright, very intelligent, he knows the game and has strong opinions on the game.

"Jonny certainly has all the attributes that you would look for in a manager and he's got good qualities as a human being as well as a football coach.

"Within the squad, they all have capabilities and know the game. We have a lot of people who have a lot of good human qualities that I think would make them a good manager.

"But you just never know with players. Everyone comes at different times and has a different career path. The biggest thing now is, 'Are you prepared to do the work? Are you prepared to go and start somewhere and work your way into it?'.

"The modern-day player may not just have that desire. You've so many opportunities outside the game. We're seeing people who were perceived as if they were going to be top managers actually settle for being pundits.

"If you have the playing career that some of those guys had I think that's fully understandable. I had to go and start at Brechin City while I was working in financial services - that was what was open to me.

"You do it, work as hard as you can, and hopefully have success. It's where lads get the opportunity and whether they're prepared to take it and stick at it.

"It's a very challenging career but that's what makes it enjoyable. It's very difficult to find something after your playing career that will give you that level of focus and that level of challenge, and certainly management does that." 

On the future: "I still believe there's more in this squad.

"I just want to see them not settle for what they've had.

"Yes we went to France, yes it was a fantastic experience, yes we did well. What I remember from France was that we got beat by Wales. That's what will hopefully motivate us further to go on and do everything possible to get to Russia." 

On facing Azerbaijan: "This is the worst game we could have logistically at this time of the year.

"If it's a home game, great, the players are happy, they're back here in Belfast, they're relaxed and looking forward to the game.

"The only thing that works in our favour is that it's a single game.

"But that's the way the fixtures came out and we'll have to deal with it. I think we'll be fine. I'm not overly concerned about the conditions. I also see in the players already that their preparation and application is really good." 

Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland: Betting tips

Matt Brocklebank writes... Northern Ireland travel to Azerbaijan in Group C, where it's all about the battle to finish runners-up behind Germany.

Michael O'Neill's side have proved their admirable showing at the Euros last summer to be no fluke with wins over San Marino and Norway, on top of a 4-0 thrashing of Saturday's opponents at Windsor Park, and it's safe to expect another solid showing from the side, though a repeat of the easy win back in October looks unlikely.

Click here for Matt's full preview of Saturday night's games...

Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland: Opta facts

 Northern Ireland have lost only one of their previous five internationals against Azerbaijan (W2 D2). 

Azerbaijan were beaten 4-0 by Northern Ireland in November 2016, their heaviest international defeat since October 2014 (6-0 v Croatia). 

In fact, Azerbaijan have conceded eight times across their last two World Cup qualifiers, after conceding none in their first three games in the group. 

Northern Ireland’s last six goals in qualifying have all come from different players (Lafferty, McAuley, McLaughlin, Brunt, Ward and Washington). 

However, Michael O’Neill’s side have failed to score in their last four internationals away from home soil (inc. neutral games at Euro 2016). 

Northern Ireland have won only one of their last five away qualifying games (D2 L2). 

Only Slovakia (62.5 per cent) have a better shooting accuracy than Northern Ireland in European World Cup qualifying so far (57.7 per cent).  

Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland: Sky Bet odds

Northern Ireland are 5/4 favourites to come away with all three points and Azerbaijan can be backed at 13/5, with the draw on offer at 2/1.

It's 7/4 for the visitors to prevail by a scoreline of 1-0,2-0 or 2-1, while under 2.5 goals to be scored is long odds-on at 2/5.

Sky Bet's wide range of Price Boost offers on the match include Chris Brunt to score first enhanced from 9/1 to 12/1 and Northern Ireland to win 2-1 at 11/1 (boosted from 9/1).

Click here to check out all the live odds and offers.