Three factors from two troublesome away assignments marked an honest begin to World Cup qualifying for Northern Eire.
A formidable 3-1 win at Luxembourg earlier than a 3-1 defeat at Germany, regardless of a efficiency to be happy with in Cologne, provides Northern Eire followers actual motive for optimism because the marketing campaign continues this month.
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It is a dwelling double-header this time round in opposition to the group’s two high seeds as Slovakia go to Belfast first on 10 October, earlier than Germany come to city three days later.
BBC Sport NI takes a have a look at the Northern Eire squad for the subsequent two qualifiers, and the way they’ve fared at their golf equipment to this point this season.
Goalkeepers
Bailey Peacock Farrell: In his first season with Blackpool, the previous Leeds and Burnley goalkeeper endured a troublesome begin to the marketing campaign however has conceded simply 4 occasions in 4 video games because the final worldwide break, together with a clear sheet in opposition to Barnsley.
Conor Hazard: The Plymouth Argyle stopper had not performed since struggling a knee harm within the June pleasant earlier than turning out in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur Below-21s in a 6-2 EFL Trophy win final week. The Downpatrick man then skippered the aspect and saved a clear sheet on his League One return in opposition to Burton Albion on Saturday.
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Luke Southwood: Has began six of seven video games in Bristol Rovers’ present unbeaten run, holding clear sheets in three.
Defenders
Trai Hume is a daily for Sunderland within the Premier League. [Getty Images]
Trai Hume: Life within the Premier League is suiting the full-back with Sunderland unbeaten because the worldwide break. The previous Linfield man has but to overlook a minute within the league to this point.
Daniel Ballard: Hume’s defensive colleague on the Stadium of Gentle missed the video games in Luxembourg and Germany however returned for Sunderland off the bench on to play 54 minutes of their draw with Aston Villa on 21 September. He adopted that with one other 16 minutes as a substitute in Saturday’s win at Nottingham Forest.
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Paddy McNair: After underlining his continued significance to the aspect in Germany, McNair has began twice and was been an unused sub in San Diego’s three MLS video games because the final worldwide break.
Eoin Toal: After captaining the aspect to begin the season, the Armagh man has discovered himself out of the Bolton aspect because the video games in Luxembourg and Germany. He was an unused sub for his or her three League One video games, however did play the total 90 of their EFL Cup win in opposition to the Manchester Metropolis Below-21s.
Conor Bradley: The 22-year-old has began Liverpool’s previous two league video games, in opposition to Everton and Crystal Palace, then was booked after approaching in opposition to Galatasaray of their Champions League defeat.
Ryan Johnston: After being known as into the panel late final time round and making his debut off the bench in opposition to Germany, impressed O’Neill sufficiently to maintain his place. Has performed three full video games for League One Wimbledon since and scored of their 2-1 win at Doncaster.
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Ruairi McConville: The centre-back’s wrestle for recreation time has continued and he has but to see a minute of Championship motion for Norwich.
Ciaron Brown: Included within the squad regardless of not that includes for Oxford United but this season due to harm.
Brodie Spencer: Brown’s club-mate was yet one more to overlook out final time round however has performed 90 minutes in every of the previous three rounds within the Championship.
Terry Devlin: The previous Glentoran participant continues to see solely sporadic motion for Portsmouth, coming off the bench twice and twice being an unused substitute since final month’s worldwide break.
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Midfielders
Shea Charles scored for Southampton of their 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. [Getty Images]
Justin Devenny: Devenny appeared in each 2025-26 Premier League recreation to this point for a Crystal Palace aspect that sit third within the Premier League desk, beginning as soon as.
Shea Charles: Has performed all however 11 minutes of Southampton’s eight Championship video games this season, and memorably scored in opposition to Liverpool at Anfield in his aspect’s 2-1 EFL Cup loss final month.
Ali McCann: Got here off the bench for Preston North Finish in opposition to Hull Metropolis on Tuesday however has began each different Championship recreation.
George Saville: In his first season at Kenilworth Street, the skilled midfielder has not missed a minute of Luton City’s previous 5 contests in League One, and has an help in consecutive matches.
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Ethan Galbraith: Having started the season in nice type, Galbraith has began each considered one of Swansea’s video games within the Championship to this point.
Jamie Donley: On mortgage at Stoke Metropolis from Tottenham Hotspur and has been an unused substitute of their previous six league video games, final that includes within the EFL Cup in opposition to Bradford Metropolis on 26 August.
Jamie McDonnell: One other who was a late call-up to the squad final time round, the Nottingham Forest midfielder who’s on mortgage at Mansfield City has performed three full video games again at his membership because the final window.
Paul Smyth: Returned from harm for QPR on the weekend, managing 17 minutes off the bench of their Championship draw with Sheffield Wednesday and adopted that up with one other quarter of an hour as a substitute in opposition to Oxford United.
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Isaac Value: Scored his tenth worldwide aim away to Germany however has not discovered the web since in 4 video games for West Bromwich Albion.
Ross McCausland: The Rangers winger is on mortgage at Aris Limassol and has been recalled to the worldwide squad after a run of three objectives in his previous three video games.
Forwards
Josh Magennis: The 35-year-old striker has not performed for his nation since November 2024 however is again in O’Neill’s plans after hitting the web 4 occasions in 9 League One video games for Exeter Metropolis this season.
Jamie Reid: Performed twice for Stevenage since final month’s worldwide window, however was not within the squad for his or her 3-2 win at Leyton Orient on the weekend together with his absence attributed to a “slight knock” by the membership’s social media accounts.
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Dion Charles: Led the road for Huddersfield City in opposition to no much less vaunted opposition than Manchester Metropolis in his aspect’s EFL Cup defeat to Manchester Metropolis, and likewise within the EFL Trophy loss to Harrogate, however has not featured within the league since August.
Callum Marshall: Was on the bench for what was new West Ham supervisor Nuno Espirito Santo’s first recreation in cost in opposition to in opposition to Everton on Monday night time however didn’t see the sector. Has scored three objectives in two video games for West Ham’s Below-21s within the EFL Trophy.