Michael O'Neill has welcomed the regular club football his Northern Ireland squad is enjoying as they prepare for crucial Nations League fixtures against Ukraine and Hungary. The manager believes this increased game time will benefit the team as they aim to build on their strong start to the campaign.
\nClub Form Provides Foundation
\nNorthern Ireland sit atop Nations League Group B2 after four games, and O'Neill is encouraged by the minutes his players are accumulating at club level. "There's a lot of players who are playing on a regular basis at their clubs, which is a real positive," he said. "I think at this stage of their career they should be looking up. Our players that play in the Championship hopefully will have aspirations to play in the Premier League, and I think we have players that are capable of that."
\nNine of the 24-man squad made permanent or loan moves during the summer, and the group is now filled with regulars across England's top three divisions. Excluding the uncapped trio of Dermot Mee, Eoin Kenny, and Braiden Graham, the remainder of the panel have averaged over 1,000 minutes of club action this season.
\nStandout Performances
\nSeveral players have produced memorable moments for their clubs. Pierce Charles made an incredible double save from Jarrod Bowen's penalty to earn Queens Park Rangers a point against West Ham. Isaac Price bounced back from his own spot-kick disappointment at West Bromwich Albion, while Terry Devlin scored twice for Portsmouth against Swansea.
\nO'Neill is particularly pleased with the progress of attackers Jamie Donley and Callum Marshall, both at Luton Town under Jack Wilshere. Donley, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, has scored three times and provided two assists in recent weeks, while Marshall has found the net four times in League One since joining from West Ham in the summer.
\nPremier League Ambitions
\nThe next step, according to O'Neill, is for more players to join the likes of Conor Bradley, Daniel Ballard, Trai Hume, and Shea Charles in the Premier League. "The more players we can get to the Premier League will help us as a nation, there's no doubt about that," he added. "I'm pleased where a lot of the players are at this minute in time but I still think individually with their clubs they've got a lot of scope to grow and develop as well."
\nNorthern Ireland face Ukraine on Saturday before taking on Hungary three days later. With key players like Ballard, Bradley, and Ceadach O'Neill missing through injury, the squad's depth and club form will be crucial. O'Neill's side will be looking to extend their unbeaten run and solidify their position at the top of the group.
