Northern Ireland Men's Football Team

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, PressEye

Experienced striker Josh Magennis is targeting a Northern Ireland return, admitting he can "never be comfortable" with being left out of a squad.

Manager Michael O'Neill omitted the 34-year-old frontman from March's friendlies to assess new forward options, but said the door would remain open for Magennis.

Hip surgery has ruled Magennis out of June's games with Denmark and Iceland. but the Exeter City forward is aiming for a return when World Cup qualifying begins in September.

"You can never be comfortable being left out of a squad," said Magennis, who has 12 goals in 82 Northern Ireland caps.

"That's your own selfish ego, but you have to try and see the bigger picture.

"Similar happened to me when I came into the squad, when Michael wanted to see me but there were other players before me and he knew what they could do."

Magennis added that he still "has got a lot to offer" his country after scoring 12 goals in all competitions for League One side Exeter during the 2024-25 season.

"It's up to me to continue to perform and keep my head down, and be ready to go whenever that opportunity comes again," Magennis added.

"I still feel like I've got a lot to offer. I feel like I'm progressing and doing well, so I'm not slowing down any time soon."

While recovering from surgery, Magennis is undertaking a coach education course with the Irish FA and working on his coaching badges, and says "it's a passion that I've got" when his playing career comes to a close.

"I'll continue to play as long as I possibly can. I'm still enjoying playing football, but unfortunately in every dream you have to wake up and for me that's getting closer and closer as the seasons go on.

"It's a passion I've got now to understand the game, learn the game and develop players as much as I can."

Image source, Presseye

David Healy, a former team-mate of Steven Davis with both Rangers and Northern Ireland, has said the former midfielder would be "an asset" if he were to become part of the backroom staff at the Scottish Premiership giants.

Davis has been linked with a coaching role at Rangers should Steven Gerrard return for a second spell as boss.

Gerrard is understood to be one of the leading contenders to take charge after Barry Ferguson's interim term in charge came to an end.

Davis was put in temporary control of first-team affairs following the departure of former manager Michael Beale in October 2023.

The 40-year-old was caretaker boss for two games, a Europa League defeat by Aris Limassol and a league win over St Mirren, before Philippe Clement was appointed to the position on a permanent basis.

As a player, Davis made a total of 239 appearances for Rangers during two spells with the club.

"Steve has had the privilege and the honour of being in [at Rangers as a coach] for a little bit and I don't think it fazed him," said Northern Ireland's record men's international goalscorer Healy.

"I don't think anything ever fazed Steve as a player or as a person. He's pretty relaxed, he's pretty comfortable in his own tone and what he wants to say.

"If Rangers feel, when the new manager comes in, whoever he's going to be, feels there's an opportunity for Steve to go in. I think Steve would be an asset to have at Rangers, no matter who the manager is."

Davis is currently part of Michael O'Neill's backroom set-up with Northern Ireland, for whom he won a record 140 caps.

"I know he's going through the process at the minute where he's going to do his coaching badges," said O'Neill.

"He's going through the process of learning and, for me, there is no better role model or apprenticeship than to be working with or in and around Michael O'Neill, who is an incredibly talented coach."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley could feature in Wednesday's Premier League derby with Everton after returning to training.

The 21-year-old has been sidelined after being forced off with a hamstring injury in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in February.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Bradley was back in training after missing six matches but he would have to be "smart" about his involvement at Anfield.

"We have to make a decision on whether he is playing, and if playing means coming in or starting," Slot said in Tuesday's press conference.

"That's something I keep for myself. He's only had a few sessions after being out for quite a long time with a repetitive injury so we have to make a smart decision."

With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bradley injured, Jarell Quansah started at right-back in Liverpool's Carabao Cup final defeat by Newcastle United.

Bradley also missed Northern Ireland's friendlies with Switzerland and Sweden in March with the issue.

Liverpool hold a 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League with nine matches remaining.

Brazil goalkeeper Alisson and Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch are expected to be available for the derby despite withdrawing from their international squads.

"Ryan is OK. We have to train one more time but he is OK," added Slot.

"Ali trained with us as well. The last check has to be made this afternoon, after the session, to see if he is available to play."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Stockholm

Image source, Inpho

Paddy McNair says there are "lessons to be learned" from a "tough night" in Sweden as Northern Ireland fell to a 5-1 defeat on Tuesday.

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak scored and assisted in Stockholm, while Emil Holm, Benjamin Nygren, Ken Sema and Anthony Elanga were also on target.

Isaac Price scored a late consolation, but Northern Ireland fell to just a third defeat in 12 matches as Sweden showed their clinical edge.

"We're disappointed but it's a hard one," said San Diego defender McNair.

"They deserved to win but I felt 5-1 was a bit harsh.

"We have to learn from that and move forward because there are still six months to the World Cup qualifiers, so we can iron out the mistakes and get it right for then."

'You are going to have nights like this'

Manager Michael O'Neill had warned that his side - also missing a number of key players such as Conor Bradley, Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard - could face difficult nights as he gears up for the start of World Cup qualifying with a series of friendlies with top-tier nations.

That proved to be the case in Stockholm as Sweden, who lost to Luxembourg on Saturday, responded with a big win in front of a home crowd.

"They are a good side obviously and took their chances," added McNair.

"I think they had six on target and scored five of them so they were clinical and it was disappointing for us.

"When you are young players you are going to have nights like this, and you have to learn from them and take the small positives from it."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Stockholm

Image source, Press Eye

Shea Charles believes Northern Ireland have to use Tuesday's 5-1 friendly defeat in Sweden as motivation for their World Cup qualifiers.

The loss in Stockholm was just a third in Northern Ireland's past 12 matches as Alexander Isak spearheaded a wounded Sweden, who lost on Saturday in Luxembourg, to a big win.

Michael O'Neill's side will face two more friendlies, away to Denmark and at home to Iceland, before their opening World Cup qualifiers in Luxembourg and Germany.

"Definitely. It's almost like a look into the future of what we will come up against," said Charles when asked if the defeat would fuel their qualifying campaign.

"I know Germany are one of the best teams in the world but it's a game of football and anything can happen.

"I think we are good enough to compete against these sorts of teams."

'They finished their chances, we didn't'

While it may be a strange statement to say after a 5-1 defeat, Northern Ireland showed in Friday's draw against Switzerland that they can match sides who are regulars at major tournaments.

O'Neill's team have also impressed against the likes of Scotland and Romania in the past 12 months, but the game in Sweden was a harsh lesson.

Charles, who captained the side at 21, is confident it will not leave any lasting impact on a young panel who had been on an upward trajectory.

"I don't think it was a 5-1 game, which is always hard to look at when it is that score," he said.

"They finished their chances, unlike us. I feel that we had similar chances."

Northern Ireland were without three first-choice defenders in Conor Bradley, Trai Hume and Dan Ballard, while Eoin Toal also likely would have featured if fit.

"We should have been a bit more compact, but we didn't and it ended up being five," added Charles.

"That's what that's what happens when you do make mistakes against players of that quality."

Image source, Getty Images

Sweden's Anthony Elanga said Northern Ireland are a "really good young team" and praised goalkeeper Pierce Charles, despite dominating Michael O'Neill's young side in the Stockholm friendly.

Nottingham Forest striker Elanga was on the scoresheet in Sweden's 5-1 win on Tuesday night, but thinks the beaten visitors are heading in the right direction under O'Neill.

"I've been watching Northern Ireland and I think they're really good, they've got a really good manager.

"You've got a really good, young team that play football, play good football. I really enjoy watching you guys play."

Elanga knows a number of O'Neill's squad and believes 19-year-old goalkeeper Charles, who won his sixth cap at the Strawberry Arena, is an "amazing" prospect.

"I know a few of the players, Ethan Galbraith who I played with at [Manchester] United, the Charles brothers [who were products of the Manchester City youth system].

"He [Pierce] is an amazing goalkeeper by the way, he's got a bright future."

Sweden's victory came without Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski and Sporting Lisbon striker Victor Gyokeres.

Elanga said he was "not at all" frustrated to start the game on the bench, especially with Nottingham Forest's FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton on Saturday.

"Coming on, I wanted to make an impact and score and that's what I did.

"It's important to stay fit and healthy because I've got a lot of games coming up for Nottingham Forest."

Image source, Inpho

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said he had to avoid the team becoming "very disjointed" after not bringing Ross County striker Ronan Hale off the bench in his side's 5-1 friendly loss to Sweden on Tuesday night.

The former Cliftonville man was the subject of a lengthy international transfer after previously representing Republic of Ireland at youth level and was included in O'Neill's squad for the first time this month.

But the 26-year-old was an unused substitute in friendlies against Switzerland and Sweden with O'Neill saying he did not want to bring him on "slightly out of position" in the latter stages with the team already 5-0 behind.

"It's very difficult in that situation," he said.

"You can throw on another player and play him slightly out of position, but at that time we're trailing in the game 5-0.

"I have to protect the morale of the team a little bit, the team can get very disjointed at that point in time."

O'Neill added that Hale will have benefitted from the experience of being away with the squad for the first time.

He said: "Those players will get their chances.

"They will go back to their clubs, they have to get minutes and do well.

"This is Ronan's first trip, he will understand what we want from him from what he's seen in training."

Image source, Inpho

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said his side "need to defend better" after a 5-1 friendly defeat by Sweden in Stockholm.

Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak scored a superb fourth for the hosts on Tuesday, having also created their opener.

While Isaac Price did find the net for Northern Ireland late on, O'Neill felt the scoreline was "a little harsh" on his side.

"They had some great moments, some great goals - Isak's in particular," said O'Neill.

"We need to defend better. As a back three we didn't defend great, as a back five we didn't defend great in terms of our decision-making."

Sweden led 2-0 at half-time courtesy of their only two shots on target in the opening 45 minutes, while McConville missed a great chance for the visitors with a header just before the break.

"I didn't think in the first half there was a lot in it. They had two shots and scored two goals," O'Neill said.

"We've two shots, the keeper makes a save and the other misses the target.

"It wasn't as if we were relying on our keeper to make a load of saves or anything like that."

'We're missing players that will make a difference'

O'Neill said he had taken the friendly against Sweden to "expose the players" to a higher level than they faced in Nations League C during the autumn, but felt that injuries cost his side at the Strawberry Arena.

Northern Ireland were without Liverpool's Conor Bradley and Sunderland duo Trai Hume and Dan Ballard in defence.

Midfielder Ali McCann and striker Dion Charles were also absent through injury.

"We're missing players that will make a difference to the team, probably five or six players, potentially starting players," O'Neill added.

Northern Ireland are next in action with a pair of June friendlies against Denmark away and Iceland at home.