CITY boss Glenn Roeder says midfielder Sammy Clingan will only be able to play for Northern Ireland in their forthcoming international clashes if he's fit enough to play for the Canaries against Derby County this Saturday at Carrow Road (3pm).

Roeder said: "Of course it's an honour to play for your country but it's playing for Norwich City that matters most, if Sammy is not fit for us he won't be fit for Northern Ireland.

"I'm sure he'll be announced in the squad but whether he's fit to go, that's entirely a different matter. Playing for your club is the most important shirt you will wear, the other is an honour but it's not the most important."

Nigel Worthington's Northern Ireland have two World Cup qualifying fixtures coming up - Slovenia away on Saturday, October 11, followed by a home fixture against San Marino on Wednesday, October 15.

Looking ahead to the Canaries visit to Southampton tomorrow night, Roeder said both Arturo Lupoli and Matty Pattison should shrug off niggling hamstring injuries and be fit to travel with the squad: "Pattison has still got a tight hamstring, we don't think he's damaged it any more than when he did when he had to come off against Sheffield United.

"It was tight travelling back on Saturday and he's still aware of it this morning. It's very much touch and go, but if he doesn't make it tomorrow he should be OK on Saturday, we don't want to damage to it where he's out for a month or more so we'll wait and see, but he will travel anyway."

On Italian youngster Arturo Lupoli, the City boss added: "Arturo should be available, he trained yesterday morning and he seemed fine."

MIddlesbrough loanee Jonathan Grounds received treatment during the second half of Saturday's match against Barnsley following a rough challenge from Barnsley's De Silva. Roeder said the youngster was lucky not to have come away without serious injury. He commented: "Groundsy took a whack from a very bad tackle, and I don't think the referee recognised what happened there - it was a leg-breaker. Thankfully he got away with bad bruising, and he's a tough lad so he'll be fine."