Michael O’Neill to put faith in youth as injuries pile up for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill will be leaning on young players again for next month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers with injuries continuing to limit his options. O’Neill is yet to confirm a date to name his squad for the qualifiers away to Denmark and at home to Kazakhstan in mid-June, but he has already ruled seven senior players out of contention due to long-term injuries. Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans, Liam Boyce, Josh Magennis, Conor Washington and Shane Ferguson will play no part in the matches, which has meant O’Neill has had his eye on potential call-ups while leading an under-21 training camp in Belfast this week. O’Neill is due to hold two training camps in England between now and the qualifiers, trying to keep players whose seasons have already finished fit during the intervening period, and some of the under-21s will be involved. “This is where this is really important to us,” O’Neill said. “We will use some of these players in the next weeks and this gives them some exposure to the senior squad. “We know Steven and Stuart are still injured, Corry and Liam Boyce are still not back playing any first-team football, Josh Magennis will be out, Conor Washington is out and Shane Ferguson has had groin surgery, so that’s seven players that’s missing. “It is going to challenge us. We had younger players in the squad for March and we will have younger players again next month.” Dallas has been out all season following a double leg-break, meaning the versatile player has been unable to help Leeds in their fight against relegation. With Jonny Evans’ Leicester also under threat going into the final day of the top-flight season on Sunday, Northern Ireland could potentially be left without any Premier League regulars next season. However, O’Neill said that would not necessarily have a major impact on the national team. “I realise that as the Premier League continues to go in the direction it goes that we will always have a limited number of players playing in the Premier League,” he said. “Probably when I came into the job in 2012 we had most of our players playing there, maybe six or seven at that point in time, but it was also a time when the international team was not doing particularly well. “The most important thing is that players are playing regularly. Going forward we will predominantly be made up of Championship and League One players, hopefully some Premier League players as well, that’s just something we have to accept. “It’s very difficult for some of the younger lads who are at Premier League clubs to find that pathway to break in. In the Premier League there is no patience, managers can’t afford it. You can lose your job – and you see the number of changes in the Premier League and Championship this season. “I would love to be going to Premier League matches every week but I’m not. I’m going to Championship, League One, League Two, Scottish Premiership and under-21 games in England. I’m going to see Isaac Price and Shea Charles playing under-21 games. “That’s where we are with the resources we have.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Tottenham is a big club – Ryan Mason sure Spurs job still attractive proposition Julen Lopetegui wants to ‘solve the problem’ amid doubts over his Wolves future Don’t be overawed by Wembley, says Liam Kelly as Coventry aim for Premier League
1970-01-01 08:00
Ange Postecoglou discusses links to Tottenham
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has been asked about speculation linking him to the vacant job at Tottenham.
1970-01-01 08:00
Alanis Morissette: A look back at Ryan Reynolds' passionate relationship with singer before meeting wife Blake Lively
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1970-01-01 08:00
Bond Traders Are Starting to Eye Potential Risks Beyond the Debt Ceiling
Bond investors are beginning to look beyond the debt-ceiling quagmire even as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s warnings about
1970-01-01 08:00
For the Nuggets, long wait for NBA Finals is a unique challenge
For the Denver Nuggets, their 4-0 sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Final, has left them with something rarely experienced in the...
1970-01-01 08:00
Don’t be overawed by Wembley, says Liam Kelly as Coventry aim for Premier League
Liam Kelly insists “sleeping giant” Coventry must avoid letting the occasion of a Wembley play-off final ruin their Premier League dream. Coventry, one of the Premier League’s founder members in 1992, will end a 22-year exile from the top flight if they overcome Luton in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final on Saturday. Victory would cap a remarkable journey for Coventry and Kelly as the veteran midfielder was part of the Sky Blues team which beat Exeter in the League Two play-off final at Wembley in 2018. “The attention surrounding this game is more (than 2018), but on a personal level it’s just the same for me,” said skipper Kelly. “We were expected to be promoted from League Two and League One, but at the start of the season I don’t think anyone expected us to be in this position. “When I came here I don’t think many people envisioned where the club would be now. It’s been a great journey. “It’s a big club and it’s been a sleeping giant for a while, but we’ve seen the support the last few years.” Coventry took 42,500 fans to Wembley when they beat Oxford to win the EFL Trophy in 2017. This time the Sky Blues have sold their allocation of 36,237 tickets for a game described as one for the romantics given Luton’s rise from non-league football over the past decade. Luton ended the campaign two places higher and with 10 points more than Mark Robins’ Coventry, but their two games in the regular season were both drawn. Kelly said: “Luton finished third and are one of the best teams in the Championship. “It’s going to be a fantastic day but at the same time you can’t let the occasion get the best of you. “You’ve got to realise what’s at stake and use that energy from the crowd to achieve what we want to. “I remember it (2018 play-off final) went really quickly, but you’ve got to go out and be on it rather than be overawed by it. “We just have to go with the momentum and not overthink it, realise where our form has taken us and give everything to try to win this game. “Sometimes the best way to get into the play-offs is to creep into it in the last couple of weeks, which we’ve managed to do, and we can take confidence from that.” Kelly has made 160 appearances for Coventry after being relegated out of the English Football League as a Leyton Orient player in 2017. But the 33-year-old could be playing his final game at Wembley as he is coming to the end of his contract and facing an uncertain future. He said: “I won’t pay too much attention to that. I just want to concentrate on this final and we can sort everything out at the end of the season. “I just want to get that winner’s medal round my neck.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Don’t be overawed by Wembley, says Liam Kelly as Coventry aim for Premier League Tyson Fury: I have sent Anthony Joshua a draft contract for Wembley fight Sean Abbott equals Blast record with stunning century for Surrey
1970-01-01 08:00
Presidential hopeful DeSantis inspires push to make book bans easier in Republican-controlled states
As he vies for the Republican presidential nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is touting a series of measures he has pushed that have led to an upswing in banned or restricted books — not just in Florida schools but in an increasing number of other conservative states
1970-01-01 08:00
Yellen Sets June 5 as Default Date in US Debt-Ceiling Standoff
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her department estimates it will run out of funding by June 5 if
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Aaron Hicks released by Yankees, who owed outfielder $27.6 million
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Yellen pushes back forecast of potential US default date
WASHINGTON U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday extended the deadline for raising the federal debt limit, saying
1970-01-01 08:00
New York City mayor signs ban on weight and height discrimination
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signed legislation that will ban discrimination based on body size by adding weight and height to the list of protected categories such as race, sex and religion
1970-01-01 08:00
MLB All-Star Game rosters if decided only by WAR
With the MLB All-Star Game less than two months away, it’s time to start thinking about potential rosters.With the MLB season over one-fourth of the way complete, it’s time to start thinking about the symbolic halfway mark of the season: the All-Star Game. While the starting lineup i...
1970-01-01 08:00
