Northern Ireland goalkeeper Roy Carroll will miss a crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Romania on Saturday due to abdominal pain.

Carroll had played every minute of the 15 competitive fixtures since Michael O'Neill took over as Northern Ireland boss.

But the Irish Football Association announced on Friday that the 37-year-old former Manchester United star had been ruled out of the Group F clash at Windsor Park.

Hamilton's Michael McGovern, who has just three friendly caps to his name, is in line to deputise, with Cheltenham's Trevor Carson, who has yet to make his senior international debut, the other option available to O'Neill.

Notts County 'keeper Carroll sat out training on Thursday and Friday but at his pre-match press conference O'Neill had brushed aside any fitness concerns.

"Roy has had a stomach upset but it's just precautionary that we sat him out of training. He'll be fine," he said.

That prognosis proved to be overly optimistic, with Carroll withdrawing from the squad just 24 hours before second-placed Northern Ireland try to secure the win that would move them above group leaders Romania in the race for automatic qualification for next year's tournament.