How the Northern Ireland squad are performing at club level

Northern Ireland will play Slovakia on 10 October and Germany on 13 October

Three points from two difficult away assignments marked a decent start to World Cup qualifying for Northern Ireland.

An impressive 3-1 win at Luxembourg before a 3-1 defeat at Germany, despite a performance to be proud of in Cologne, gives Northern Ireland fans real reason for optimism as the campaign continues this month.

It's a home double-header this time around against the group's two top seeds as Slovakia visit Belfast first on 10 October, before Germany come to town three days later.

BBC Sport NI takes a look at the Northern Ireland squad for the next two qualifiers, and how they have fared at their clubs so far this season.

Goalkeepers

Bailey Peacock Farrell: In his first season with Blackpool, the former Leeds and Burnley goalkeeper endured a difficult start to the campaign but has conceded just four times in four games since the last international break, including a clean sheet against Barnsley.

Conor Hazard: The Plymouth Argyle stopper had not played since suffering a knee injury in the June friendly before turning out against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s in a 6-2 EFL Trophy win last week. The Downpatrick man then skippered the side and kept a clean sheet on his League One return against Burton Albion on Saturday.

Luke Southwood: Has started six of seven games in Bristol Rovers' current unbeaten run, keeping clean sheets in three.

Defenders

Trai Hume is a regular for Sunderland in the Premier League.

Trai Hume: Life in the Premier League is suiting the full-back with Sunderland unbeaten since the international break. The former Linfield man has yet to miss a minute in the league so far.

Daniel Ballard: Hume's defensive colleague at the Stadium of Light missed the games in Luxembourg and Germany but returned for Sunderland off the bench on to play 54 minutes in their draw with Aston Villa on 21 September. He followed that with another 16 minutes as a replacement in Saturday's win at Nottingham Forest.

Paddy McNair: After underlining his continued importance to the side in Germany, McNair has started twice and was been an unused sub in San Diego's three MLS games since the last international break.

Eoin Toal: After captaining the side to start the season, the Armagh man has found himself out of the Bolton side since the games in Luxembourg and Germany. He was an unused sub for their three League One games, but did play the full 90 in their EFL Cup win against the Manchester City Under-21s.

Conor Bradley: The 22-year-old has started Liverpool's past two league games, against Everton and Crystal Palace, then was booked after coming on against Galatasaray in their Champions League defeat.

Ryan Johnston: After being called into the panel late last time around and making his debut off the bench against Germany, impressed O'Neill sufficiently to keep his place. Has played three full games for League One Wimbledon since and scored in their 2-1 win at Doncaster.

Ruairi McConville: The centre-back's struggle for game time has continued and he has yet to see a minute of Championship action for Norwich.

Ciaron Brown: Included in the squad despite not featuring for Oxford United yet this season because of injury.

Brodie Spencer: Brown's club-mate was yet another to miss out last time around but has played 90 minutes in each of the past three rounds in the Championship.

Terry Devlin: The former Glentoran player continues to see only sporadic action for Portsmouth, coming off the bench twice and twice being an unused substitute since last month's international break.

Midfielders

Shea Charles scored for Southampton in their 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

Justin Devenny: Devenny appeared in every 2025-26 Premier League game so far for a Crystal Palace side that sit third in the Premier League table, starting once.

Shea Charles: Has played all but 11 minutes of Southampton's eight Championship games this season, and memorably scored against Liverpool at Anfield in his side's 2-1 EFL Cup loss last month.

Ali McCann: Came off the bench for Preston North End against Hull City on Tuesday but has started every other Championship game.

George Saville: In his first season at Kenilworth Road, the experienced midfielder has not missed a minute of Luton Town's past five contests in League One, and has an assist in consecutive matches.

Ethan Galbraith: Having began the season in great form, Galbraith has started every one of Swansea's games in the Championship so far.

Jamie Donley: On loan at Stoke City from Tottenham Hotspur and has been an unused substitute in their past six league games, last featuring in the EFL Cup against Bradford City on 26 August.

Jamie McDonnell: Another who was a late call-up to the squad last time around, the Nottingham Forest midfielder who is on loan at Mansfield Town has played three full games back at his club since the last window.

Paul Smyth: Returned from injury for QPR at the weekend, managing 17 minutes off the bench in their Championship draw with Sheffield Wednesday and followed that up with another quarter of an hour as a replacement against Oxford United.

Isaac Price: Scored his 10th international goal away to Germany but has not found the net since in four games for West Bromwich Albion.

Ross McCausland: The Rangers winger is on loan at Aris Limassol and has been recalled to the international squad after a run of three goals in his past three games.

Forwards

Josh Magennis: The 35-year-old striker has not played for his country since November 2024 but is back in O'Neill's plans after hitting the net four times in nine League One games for Exeter City this season.

Jamie Reid: Played twice for Stevenage since last month's international window, but was not in the squad for their 3-2 win at Leyton Orient at the weekend with his absence attributed to a "slight knock" by the club's social media accounts.

Dion Charles: Led the line for Huddersfield Town against no less vaunted opposition than Manchester City in his side's EFL Cup defeat to Manchester City, and also in the EFL Trophy loss to Harrogate, but has not featured in the league since August.

Callum Marshall: Was on the bench for what was new West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo's first game in charge against against Everton on Monday night but did not see the field. Has scored three goals in two games for West Ham's Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.