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

Image source, Getty Images

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."

Image source, Getty Images

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.