The Norwich City manager played for Northern Ireland the last time they met England and has some fond memories of meetings between the two sides, but believes the task in front of Lawrie Sanchez's team is just too great.

"I think it's going to be an England win," says Worthington, who won 66 caps for his country. 

"They've got two home games and they'll be looking to get a good start."

"It's going to be tough for Northern Ireland, but if they can re-produce the performance against Wales in Cardiff, then England won't get it all their own way. But you look at the two teams on paper, you've got world-class players and top Premiership players in the England team, and Northern Ireland have only four or five players with Premiership clubs at this moment in time, so it's not going to be easy for them."

However, Worthington also highlights three Irish players capable of causing a surprise and says that England must be on their guard. 

"The young boy Steven Davis at Aston Villa is a good young player, I like him a lot, and they've got David Healy who has got the potential to score a goal and will always need watching. 

"Then there's Stuart Elliott who has got a load of goals for Hull City this year, so there's two or three danger men there, but I just think that the overall strength of England will be too much to deal with."

The former Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United left-back has his own experiences of a this 'derby' occasion and remembers back to a great night at Wembley in November 1985. 

"We used to have good games against England," he says, "We had a good game at Wembley a few years back. It was the last game of our qualifying and we drew 0-0. That was enough to put us on the way to the Mexico World Cup, and that was a great achievement.

"I can also remember the home game earlier in that campaign, unfortunately Mark Hately scored the only goal in Belfast to win the game, but that was a great match.

"We did have some very good players then, too. We had Norman Whiteside, Gerry Armstrong, Sammy McIlroy, Martin O'Neil, Mal Donaghy, Pat Jennings, John McClelland; there was a host of top-flight players, a good group that had come together and had a great spirit within the camp.

"Unfortunately for Northern Ireland it's been hard work over the last few years," he adds.

But if Northern Ireland can manage the unthinkable and shock England on their own turf, Worthington says that it will give a confidence boost to Lawrie Sanchez and his side that could push them forward.

"It's like a derby game, but it's not a bitter rivalry. Both teams will be going out to win the game for their own pride, but it's not like a Liverpool v Manchester United, a Celtic v Rangers," says Worthington.

"It'll be an up an' at 'em style encounter, very competitive.

"If Ireland can win, it'll be a huge boost for the manager, the staff and players and a great lift for the country too.

"When you're talking about England in terms of International football, you're talking about the top of the tree thanks to the numbers they have to choose from, so it would give a massive injection of confidence."