Davis devastated to miss qualifiers

Injured Northern Ireland midfielder Steven Davis says he will be "kicking every ball" as his team-mates take on Serbia and Slovenia in the coming week.

Davis was ruled out of the Euro 2012 qualifiers with a knee injury after putting in a man-of-the-match showing for Rangers in their Co-operative Insurance Cup final win over Celtic.

"I hate missing any Northern Ireland games but I'm gutted to be out of crucial qualifiers," Davis told the Belfast Telegraph.

"My knee hasn't felt right for a few weeks and I had a scan last week to try to find out what the problem is. They have said it is the tendons around my knee. So the best thing that I can do is rest it.

"I played in the final because it was a needs-must for Rangers and after playing well I was really excited about the two Northern Ireland games, but it's not to be.

"Whoever comes in for me will do well, but I will find it tough sitting at home watching the lads. I'm sure I'll be kicking every ball."

Northern Ireland have had a mixed start in the qualifying campaign, beating Slovenia and drawing with Italy before a disappointing draw with the Faroe Islands.

The next two games, behind closed doors in Belgrade on Friday and at home to Slovenia four days later, will be crucial to their prospects.

Davis added: "These are two massive games. We didn't do ourselves justice in the Faroe Islands in our last qualifier, especially after taking four points from Slovenia and Italy.

"That will be in the lads' minds before Serbia and for that reason I have every faith they will put things right."