Northern Ireland selection dilemmas ahead of Ukraine Nations League match
Michael O'Neill's unbeaten Northern Ireland side, yet to concede in League B2, face Ukraine in Belfast with several selection questions to resolve.
Northern Ireland return to Nations League action on Saturday when Ukraine visit Belfast, with Michael O'Neill's side looking to secure promotion to League A. The team sits top of League B2 after four matches, having recorded away wins over Georgia and Ukraine and two home draws with Hungary and Georgia. Before a trip to Hungary on Tuesday closes the group, supporters are weighing up the key selection calls.
The defensive record is the standout feature of the campaign. Northern Ireland are the only one of the 54 teams in the Nations League yet to concede a goal after four rounds, despite being without Liverpool's Conor Bradley, a long-term absentee, and Daniel Ballard, injured in the September match in Georgia. O'Neill has options at centre-back, including youngsters Tom Atcheson and Ruairi McConville plus the experience of Paddy McNair and Ciaron Brown, and several right-back choices in Trai Hume, Terry Devlin and Brodie Spencer, who can also play left-back. In goal, Pierce Charles faces fresh competition from Manchester United's Dermot Mee.
Hume's versatility is a central question. Usually a right-back, he has been used further forward on the right wing by Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris this season, and for Northern Ireland he has played across the back line. With Bradley fit he has featured as the right of three centre-backs, and in October he started in central midfield against Ukraine in a 3-0 win. His flexibility is seen as a positive, but fans must decide where he best serves the team.
Up front, goalscoring has long been an issue. Jamie Donley has led the line recently and is in good club form for Luton Town, though in a different role than at international level. Luton team-mate Callum Marshall is another attacking option and can play out wide, while Josh Magennis offers a target-man presence as he approaches a century of caps. Braiden Graham is on the fringes at Everton and Eoin Kenny is untested, having played one Championship fixture since joining Portsmouth from Dundalk.
O'Neill's squad has produced an impressive opening to the campaign, but the choices over the defence, Hume's position and the centre-forward spot will shape the approach against Ukraine. Supporters are invited to make their picks, with the outcomes of those debates set to be tested at Windsor Park.
Image: Press Eye / BBC Sport
