Northern Ireland Euro 2024 qualifiers: Who will manager Michael O'Neill turn to as captain?

Jonny Evans' injury has left Michael O'Neill with a decision to make about who is captain

If Michael O'Neill had drawn up a list of five potential captains on his return as Northern Ireland manager, there is a decent chance he is now without all five of them.

Losing talismanic skipper Steven Davis to a long-term injury just a week after taking over in December was a huge blow, but, as deputies go, Manchester United centre-half Jonny Evans is as good as it gets.

When Evans missed the opening Euro 2024 qualifying double-header through injury in March, his experienced central defensive sidekick Craig Cathcart was a natural choice to don the armband.

With Cathcart having now retired, and Evans injured again for the trip to Finland and the visit of Denmark, it remains unclear who the captain for these games will be.

Had the versatile Stuart Dallas not been still recovering from a long-term absence due to a broken leg, he would most certainly have been in the mix - possibly ahead of Cathcart - while Corry Evans' experience and commitment to the cause would have thrust him into the conversation.

While O'Neill may be playing it down, Northern Ireland supporters will be keen to find out who will lead their side out against Finland and Denmark in the final two qualifiers. With that in mind, BBC Sport assesses the possible candidates.

Josh Magennis - Age: 33 Caps: 75

Josh Magennis scored for Northern Ireland at Euro 2016

A long-time fans' favourite due to his work-rate and enthusiasm, not to mention some crucial goals, striker Josh Magennis would likely be a popular choice if O'Neill was to hand him the armband.

One of the few remaining Euro 2016 heroes in the squad, the 33-year-old has amassed 75 caps and scored 11 goals since making his debut against Turkey back in 2010.

The campaign has been a bit of a slow-burn for Magennis, who was struggling for fitness and club form for the early matches, meaning his only appearances before last month were when he came off the bench in four games.

It looked like Dion Charles may have moved above him in O'Neill's pecking order, but Magennis got the nod to start both games last month in Belfast - a 3-0 win over San Marino and a 1-0 defeat by Slovenia.

He is still struggling for regular starts in League One for Wigan, but if Magennis keeps his place in the starting line-up then he would no doubt have a good chance of doing so as captain.

Paddy McNair - Age: 28 Caps: 66

Paddy McNair made his NI debut in 2015

While he may not always come across as the most vocal of players, Paddy McNair's international experience and pedigree place him firmly in the captaincy conversation for these games.

O'Neill has spoken a few times in recent months about the imbalance of his squad meaning he does not have as many players in the 25 to 30 age group as he would like, but the Middlesbrough utility man is very much an exception to that rule.

Now aged 28, the former Manchester United man has 66 international caps and has been an ever-present in the team when fit and available for the best part of seven years, mostly as a midfielder but more recently as a central defender, where he more often plays for his club.

O'Neill has always seemed fond of McNair since giving him his debut in 2015 and finding room for him in his team at the Euro 2016 finals, despite him not featuring in many of the qualifiers.

A consistent performer for the majority of his international career, the last few years have perhaps seen the Ballyclare native's performance levels drop, but he is still very much a definite starter and could get the nod as leader.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell - Age: 27 Caps: 42

Bailey Peacock-Farrell is currently on loan at Danish side Aarhus

That fact that goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, aged just 27, has already won 42 Northern Ireland caps gives you an idea of what his standing in the squad must be.

Indeed, he gave us an insight into his confidence and frame of mind back in November 2021 when he declared that he wants to break Davis' all-time Northern Ireland appearance record.

Given his debut by O'Neill in a friendly against Panama in the summer of 2018, the Darlington native soon edged out Michael McGovern as the regular first-choice goalkeeper and has largely retained the number one jersey ever since.

Like McNair, his form has dipped somewhat recently but, although he was left out for Conor Hazard in October's victory over San Marino, O'Neill explained that this was not performance-related, with the former Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday stopper back in for the last match against Slovenia.

Now on loan from Burnley at Danish side Aarhus, Peacock-Farrell could be in line for the armband but he will have to prove his fitness first, with O'Neill revealing on Tuesday that he is an injury concern after not playing for his club at the weekend.

George Saville - Age: 30 Caps: 49

George Saville is yet to score for Northern Ireland in 49 caps

Often a go-to for criticism from Northern Ireland fans when performances are not going well, George Saville is perhaps a surprise name on a list of potential captains.

However, the Millwall midfielder is sitting on 49 international caps and O'Neill may choose to mark the 30-year-old's half-century by selecting him to lead the side out.

That would, of course, depend on Saville being selected from the start, something which has not been a given in this campaign with him having started five times and made two sub appearances in the eight matches so far.

Other players have led Northern Ireland out when making their 50th appearance under O'Neill, and it remains to be seen if Saville is afforded the same honour.

One for the future?

Dan Ballard took over from Jonny Evans as captain against San Marino

With building for the future having formed such a big part of the Northern Ireland narrative so far in this campaign, O'Neill's thoughts may turn to who his captain might be once experienced Davis and Evans have retired.

Qualification for the 2026 World Cup does not start for another 18 months and O'Neill may look to one of his promising youngsters to be his captain for that campaign.

Sunderland defender Dan Ballard would have a strong case to be that man, with the 24-year-old having become a vital member of the team while looking increasingly commanding and assured at the back in the 21 times he has played since his debut in September 2020.

A few eyebrows may have been raised when Evans gave the captain's armband to Ballard when he went off against San Marino last month, but the United man spoke highly of his defensive partner's attributes when asked afterwards.

Liverpool wing-back Conor Bradley is another who could be a future Northern Ireland captain. The 20-year-old's all-action displays have already impressed the fans and made him an almost certain starter when fit.

He is injured currently but, given what he will be learning all the time at Anfield and how much he impressed on loan at Bolton last season, he will no doubt come into the reckoning for O'Neill down the line.

As will Southampton midfielder Shea Charles. His personality may not scream 'natural born leader', but the authority and composure with which he has performed has belied his 19 years. Playing in the same position and in a similar style to Davis, he could be a long-term replacement as Northern Ireland captain.