Lafferty, who stayed in Glasgow for treatment on a back injury instead of travelling to Slovakia last week, was hopeful of being fit in time but his hopes appear to have been dashed.

His presence was certainly missed as Worthington's young lions slipped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat in Bratislava on Saturday night but his exclusion has opened the door for Warren Feeney.

The Dundee United hitman, who looked lively after his introduction on Saturday, looks set to get the nod to partner David Healy.

Worthington is expected to change his formation and revert back to a more familiar 4-4-2 for the must-win tie against the Czechs.

Martin Paterson will fight it out with Chris Brunt for a place on the left while the impressive Chris Baird may be the odd man out in midfield to allow for a second striker.

Goals are the order of the day and after getting away from draining heat of Slovakia, Worthington expects his players to turn up the heat on the Group Three favourites on Wednesday.