West Brom's Gareth McAuley and James Morrison injured on international duty

McAuley was forced off in the 25th minute of Northern Ireland's 1-0 victory over Azerbaijan on Saturday with a recurrence of the thigh injury he picked up towards the end of the season.

Morrison, who lined up against team-mate Jake Livermore in Scotland's 2-2 draw with England, came off at half-time for James McArthur with damage to his medial knee ligaments.

Albion's medical team are expecting to lose both players for part of pre-season, although they are confident both will be fit for the start of the Premier League in August.

The Baggies return for pre-season in three weeks' time on Monday, July 3, but their first confirmed friendly isn't until Wednesday, July 19, when they play Leicester City in Hong Kong.

Before Saturday's showdown at Hampden Park, Morrison questioned the 'weird' timing of the game, which was scheduled in mid-June three weeks after the Premier League season finished.

The injuries come after Hal Robson-Kanu was forced to withdraw from the Wales squad for their crucial match against Serbia with a minor knee injury, denting the slim squad that has already lost Darren Fletcher to Stoke City this summer.

Although it's been a rotten international break for some Baggies, Livermore impressed in midfield for England, cementing himself in Gareth Southgate's future plans.

Jonny Evans also played an important part in Northern Ireland's injury-time winner in Baku, laying the ball off to goalscorer Stuart Dallas.

"I just heard 'Jonny!'" he told Sky Sports. "It was a bit of a blind pass really, maybe should have got my head up, but luckily it’s found him, he’s let it go across his body and it was a good finish in the end.

"It’s really important. During the game I was thinking of the Hungary game in the last campaign when we scored right at the death.

"Thankfully we’ve come up with that again and that might be a little moment for us. We can be pleased with ourselves and take it forward into the group."

Northern Ireland are second in Group C, five points behind leaders Germany, but four points ahead of Czech Republic in third. Chris Brunt also completed 90 minutes for Michael O'Neill's side.

And on Friday night, Nacer Chadli scored during a man-of-the-match performance for Belgium in their 2-0 win over Estonia.