Skip to content Four matches without conceding a single goal has turned selecting the Northern Ireland XI into an enviable headache for Michael O’Neill. His team sits top of Nations League Group B2 after four fixtures. They stand on the brink of something special as Ukraine visit Belfast on Saturday.
Of all 54 nations competing across the tournament, Northern Ireland are the only side who have not shipped a goal. Away victories against Georgia and Ukraine set the tone for this run. Home goalless draws with Hungary and Georgia then kept their defensive record spotless.
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Now the equation is simple for the Green and White Army. Win against Ukraine, then travel to Hungary on Tuesday, and League A promotion will belong to them. But deciding who starts at Windsor Park requires some tricky calls from the manager.
Defensive rocks in the Northern Ireland XI
Building a backline would normally start with regular Premier League talent. Yet O’Neill has guided this campaign without Liverpool’s Conor Bradley, who remains a long-term absentee. Daniel Ballard also picked up an injury during the opening match in Georgia back in September.
Instead of folding under pressure, fresh faces seized their chance. Young centre-backs Tom Atcheson and Ruairi McConville shone through the autumn fixtures. Both players looked composed, but O’Neill also has experienced campaigners Paddy McNair and Ciaron Brown pushing for starts.
Between the posts, Pierce Charles has established himself as the first choice after four consecutive clean sheets. Still, Manchester United stopper Dermot Mee provides fierce competition in the squad. Full-back berths offer similar depth, with Terry Devlin in flying form alongside Brodie Spencer and Justin Devenny.
Where does Trai Hume fit in the Northern Ireland XI?
Trai Hume gives O’Neill his greatest tactical puzzle because of his sheer versatility. At Sunderland, manager Regis Le Bris has regularly pushed the 24-year-old onto the right wing. Hume delivers wherever he plays, but his role for his country shifts constantly.
When Bradley was fit, Hume operated on the right side of a three-man central defence. He has also filled both standard full-back positions with equal comfort. Then came the away clash against Ukraine in October, where O’Neill threw a curveball.
Hume started in central midfield that night and looked completely at home. Northern Ireland romped to a 3-0 victory with Hume dictating play through the middle. While having a player who can fill four distinct positions helps the squad, settling his exact spot against Ukraine remains critical.
Solving the Northern Ireland XI attack
While the defence looks impenetrable, creating and taking chances remains Northern Ireland’s recurring challenge. The squad still searches for a ruthless finisher to convert their dominance into goals. Finding that edge could make the difference between a tense finish and a comfortable evening.
Jamie Donley has carried the burden of leading the line in recent fixtures. He arrives in fine touch after strong club performances for Luton Town, although he plays a different role there. His Kenilworth Road team-mate Callum Marshall offers another mobile outlet, either through the middle or out wide.
If O’Neill prefers physical presence, Josh Magennis provides the target man option. The veteran striker is closing in on 100 caps for his country and knows how to unsettle physical European defenders. Younger talents Braiden Graham of Everton and Portsmouth forward Eoin Kenny are also pushing for minutes.
Chasing League A promotion at Windsor Park
The stakes could hardly be higher under the Belfast floodlights. Ukraine arrive knowing they must respond after being swept aside in the reverse fixture. Northern Ireland, meanwhile, hold their destiny in their own hands as group leaders.
Managing home pressure is the final hurdle for this developing squad. Both home games in the group ended 0-0, while both away trips produced decisive victories. O’Neill needs his attackers to match the poise his defenders have shown since September.
Kick-off against Ukraine at Windsor Park is set for 19:45 GMT on Saturday, before the squad flies out to face Hungary on Tuesday night.
Source: BBC Sport
