Nigel Worthington, the Northern Ireland manager, has no fears over 17-year-old Johnny Gorman facing SloveniaNorthern Irelands manager, Nigel Worthington, has said he would have no hesitation in handing the Sheffield-born schoolboy Johnny Gorman his first competitive cap tomorrow.Gorman, 17 and capped three times in friendly matches without making a senior appearance for Wolverhampton Wanderers, is likely to start on the bench in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovenia. However if recent history is anything to go by, Worthington will at some stage turn to the midfielder, who attends Repton School in Derbyshire after winning a scholarship."You look back over my time as manager of Northern Ireland and I have always encouraged the younger ones to come through," Worthington said. "Johnny went to America and Chile with us in the summer and did ever so well. I think it is only right to encourage and give him the experience of travelling, hotels and working with the senior players."Great credit to him, he has fitted into the group by adding to it, rather than taking away from it. Sometimes with young players their inexperience and nerves can hold you back a bit. That hasnt happened with Johnny so I am delighted with that. He deserves to be here."Slovenia reached the World Cup after beating Northern Ireland 2-0 here and Worthington knows it will be just as tough two years on. "I watched Slovenia at the World Cup and I thought they did exceptionally well," he said. "I also watched them against Australia in August on DVD and they played very well again," he said. "I feel their players will be on a high. "They are coming back to their home supporters, first game of the campaign - theyll be up for the fight, as we will." PANorthern IrelandEuro 2012 guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds