Northern Ireland Men's Football Team

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland forward Jamie Donley says there has been more edge in preparations for Thursday's World Cup qualifying opener in Luxembourg.

After making his first Northern Ireland appearance in March's window of friendlies, Donley is set for his competitive debut in the qualifying campaign.

Thursday's qualifier in Luxembourg is followed by a trip to group favourites Germany, and NI will also face Slovakia in Group A.

"I think definitely, yes," Donley said when asked if there was more edge in camp.

"It's only really about getting the three points or getting points on the board, really.

"In the friendlies, it's more about our style of play and how Michael wants us to play and stuff, but I think now that's included, but it's mainly about getting results and trying to qualify."

Donley says he has seen the "quality" in Michael O'Neill's youthful squad and said "everyone is ready for the challenge".

The forward is on loan at Stoke City from Tottenham and he says he had conversations with new Spurs boss Thomas Frank about his development.

The 20-year-old impressed at Leyton Orient the previous season and has now stepped up to the Championship with Stoke.

"He did speak to me while I was away in Korea and he just said he thinks I'm a top player and I've got a top mentality," said Donley.

"He just thinks I need to get out and play some minutes, which if he thinks that's the right thing to do, then I understand that and that's what I'm hopefully going out to do.

"I can come back next season and try and impress him again."

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

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Northern Ireland striker Jamie Reid says he is in a "completely different headspace" this season as he looks to bring his club form on to the international stage.

His side begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign away to Luxembourg on Thursday night (19:45 BST) before facing Germany in Cologne on Sunday.

The 31-year-old scored on his senior international debut in a friendly against Romania in March 2024 but discovered a blood clot in his leg that summer which led to a stuttering season last time around.

After feeling like he was playing "catch-up" throughout 2024-25, he has started this campaign well with Stevenage in League One, scoring five goals in his first six games.

"I just want to kick on now because I felt last year wasn't the best version of me. I didn't have a pre-season and I was obviously recovering from that blood clot, so it was tough for me," he said.

"The belief has always been there but last year, mentally as well, I wasn't in the best place to play at the level that I need to be to be playing for Northern Ireland.

"This year I'm in a completely different headspace and completely different. My body feels so much better."

The Northern Ireland squad has been hit with numerous injuries before the double-header with goalkeeper Pierce Charles and defenders Dan Ballard and Brodie Spencer among the key absentees.

Reid believes those who will fill the void are "more than capable of stepping in and taking the shirt" and helping the side to make a strong start to their campaign.

Up front, he will be hoping for a chance to impress but the likes of Dion Charles, Ronan Hale, Dale Taylor and Callum Marshall are all options to play as a lone striker in O'Neill's usual system.

"It's good to have competition for places, I think it keeps everyone trying to play at their highest level," Reid added.

"I've been a pro since I was 18, so I know how to compete for a place. I think we're all pushing in one direction so it doesn't step over.

"We're all trying to fight for that spot but we're all a team, we're all trying to go one way."

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Paul Smyth will miss Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany through injury.

Winger Smyth was injured after scoring for QPR in their 3-1 Championship win against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons is also a major doubt after he picked up a knock in his side's 2-2 draw with Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

NI boss Michael O'Neill is already contending with a long injury list in this international window as he is without goalkeepers Pierce Charles and Conor Hazard, defenders Daniel Ballard, Brodie Spencer and Ciaron Brown as well as midfielder Jordan Thompson.

"Naturally we're disappointed to have these injuries but we have a good, young, resilient squad and we're looking forward to testing ourselves against good opposition this week," O'Neill said in a squad update issued by the IFA on Monday.

Uncapped trio Kofi Balmer, Ryan Johnson and Jamie McDonnell were called into the squad on Friday as replacements for Ballard and Spencer, but there are no further additions to the squad after Smyth's withdrawal.

Northern Ireland begin their World Cup qualifying campaign in Luxembourg on Thursday, 4 September.

They travel to Cologne to take on Germany in their second Group A game on Sunday, 7 September.

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Northern Ireland defenders Daniel Ballard and Brodie Spencer have been ruled out of the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers away to Luxembourg and Germany.

Sunderland's Ballard was forced off in the first half of his side's 2-0 loss against Burnley on Saturday, while Spencer was injured in Oxford United's 6-0 Carabao Cup defeat against Brighton on Wednesday.

It is a further blow for boss Michael O'Neill, who is already without goalkeepers Pierce Charles and Conor Hazard as well as defender Ciaron Brown and midfielder Jordan Thompson through injury.

O'Neill has called up uncapped trio Kofi Balmer, Ryan Johnson and Jamie McDonnell as replacements and further cover.

Motherwell defender Balmer, 24, has made 20 appearances for Northern Ireland's Under-21 side and been called up to the senior squad on six occasions without making an appearance.

Johnson, a 28-year-old centre-back at League One AFC Wimbledon, receives his first senior call after featuring for Northern Ireland at under-21 level.

Midfielder McDonnell is currently on loan at League One side Mansfield Town from Premier League side Nottingham Forest, who took the 21-year-old from Irish Premiership side Glentoran in 2020.

He has represented his country at under-17 and under-21 level.

Northern Ireland begin their World Cup qualifying campaign in Luxembourg on Thursday, 4 September.

They travel to Cologne to take on Germany in their second Group A game on Sunday, 7 September.

Image source, Getty Images

Defender Daniel Ballard is set to miss Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany next month through injury.

The 25-year-old was forced off during the first half of Sunderland’s 2-0 defeat against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Speaking after the Black Cats’ Carabao Cup loss against Huddersfield on Tuesday, their boss Regis Le Bris said while the concern was not "long-term", Ballard does face a spell on the sidelines.

"It's not too serious so we expect him to be out for two to three weeks," he told the club’s website.

Northern Ireland are away to Luxembourg on 4 September and face Germany in Cologne three days later.

Michael O’Neill is already without first-choice goalkeeper Pierce Charles, who pulled out of the squad after injuring his shoulder when in action for Sheffield Wednesday.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Crystal Palace's penalty hero Justin Devenny had no doubt he would convert the decisive spot-kick as the Eagles beat Liverpool to win the FA Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international was introduced late in the game with the sides locked at 2-2 and had an opportunity to snatch the win in normal time but his effort from the edge of the box went just wide.

In the shootout, the teams were again level at 2-2 when the midfielder stepped up and found the top corner of goalkeeper Alisson's net to secure another piece of silverware for the London club, who won the FA Cup last season.

"It was a long walk up to the penalty spot, but I was confident and believed in myself," Devenny told BBC Sport after the game.

"The keeper was trying to take as long as he can for me to get set up, but I just waited, believed in myself, put the ball down and I knew where I was going - thankfully it went in.

"I had the chance in the game to win it, but I won it in the end, so I'm happy about that."

Scotland-born Devenny came through the youth system at Kilmarnock before a move to Airdrieonians preceded his switch to Crystal Palace in 2023.

Last season he featured 28 times for the Premier League outfit, putting his rapid rise down to work ethic and family support.

"If you put in that work, I believe anyone can get there," said Devenny who has been capped five times for Northern Ireland.

"My family have been there from the start. There's been a lot of sacrifices made by them, so for me to repay them is a special feeling."