New faces can’t resist lure of NI: McAuley BIG OPPORTUNITY: Pages 46-47
VETERAN defender Gareth McAuley insists playing for Northern Ireland is now an attractive proposition and a quickfire way to enhance your club career.
McAuley remembers going through the dire times for the men in green when it was a struggle to convince new talent to declare for Northern Ireland.
But having reached the knockout stages of the Euros two years ago and the 2018 World Cup play-offs, 38-year-old McAuley, capped 79 times, believes Northern Ireland’s stock has risen so much that there could be a number of new faces, through the eligibility ruling, available to boss Michael O’Neill for the inaugural Nations League games against Bosnia and Austria which kickoff in September.
Huddersfield’s former Republic of Ireland full-back Sean Scannell has already opted to switch allegiance, while QPR midfielder Sean Goss and Partick defender Niall Keown are considering offers from O’Neill.
They could be joined by some of the young guns who starred for Northern Ireland on the twomatch tour of Central America.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Jordan Thompson, Shayne Lavery and Conor Hazard all made their debuts, while QPR striker Paul Smyth earned his second cap.
McAuley (right)said: “There’s a few other lads who have got paperwork submitted who want to come and play. That’s great for the country going forward.
“We want to produce more players through the Under-21s and the youth set-up.
“The future’s bright going forward. It’s that feel-good factor that everyone now wants to be a part of.”
McAuley has also told potential new Northern Ireland players that the international stage is a huge shop window in terms of club football.
The Larne man secured a move to Premier League West Brom in 2011 when Roy Hodgson came to watch Aaron Hughes during the international break and decided to sign him instead.
“International football can only help out your club career,” stressed McAuley.
“You come, play here and do well... going right back to when I moved to West Brom, it was Roy Hodgson watching two internationals.
“He was watching Hughesy, who he had worked with before, but that got me into West Brom. It’s helped me massively and it will help others going forward.”
Hospital scans have revealed Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius sustained a concussion during the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, during which he made two crucial errors.
Massachusetts General Hospital have confirmed the German underwent assessments on May 31, five days after the 3-1 loss in Kiev.
Karius (right) was on holiday in the United States, but Liverpool’s medical staff wanted him to be checked out, and a subsequent examination found evidence of concussion which doctors say could have affected his performance.
The goalkeeper was caught in the head by Sergio Ramos at a corner before Real’s opening goal, which was the first to be blamed on Karius.
“After carefully reviewing game film and integrating a detailed history — including his reported present and immediate post-contact subjective symptoms — physical examination and objective metrics, we have concluded that Mr Karius sustained a concussion during the match,” said a statement from MGH. “Mr Karius’ principal residual symptoms and objective signs suggested that visual spatial dysfunction existed and likely occurred immediately following the event. It could be possible that such deficits would affect performance.”
AFTER the immediate reaction of disappointment and frustration following Northern Ireland’s 3-0 defeat to Costa Rica on Sunday in San Jose, perspective hit the players on their long 14-hour journey back to the UK yesterday.
It was not the performance or result the men in green wanted from their final match on a two-game tour to Central America following last Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Panama.
Conceding two goals from set-pieces and a complete lack of attacking intent is a concern for boss Michael O’Neill.
Northern Ireland, despite coming so close to World Cup qualification, have only scored in one of their last six matches — against South Korea in March at Windsor Park.
But the emphasis of this end-of-season tour was to integrate six Northern Ireland Under-21 internationals into the senior squad, with a view of reaping the benefits in years to come.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Conor Hazard, Jordan Thompson and Shayne Lavery all made their debuts in Central America, while former Linfield star Paul Smyth earned his second international cap against Panama.
Only Crusaders’ attacking midfielder Gavin Whyte failed to receive game time during the two matches, but his hopes may have been dashed by picking up an injury during training on the eve of the Costa Rica match.
Veteran defender Gareth McAuley, who has accumulated 79 caps, insists this trip will be invaluable to the younger players and may even improve their club prospects.
He recalls being afforded his big Premier League opportunity after impressing for Northern Ireland.
And while these young players will obviously not be catapulted into England’s top flight, McAuley — currently searching for a new club as West Brom have not offered him a new contract — argues that the exposure you gain from international football can only be hugely beneficial.
Midfielder Thompson, having been released by Rangers, is certainly one player who hopes to take advantage of being in the shop window.
“International football can only help out your club career,” said the former Leicester and Ipswich defender, who revealed in Panama that he will continue to play club and international football next season.
“You come, play here and do well... going right back to when I moved to West Brom, it was Roy Hodgson watching two international games.
“He was watching Hughesy (Aaron Hughes), who he had worked with before, but that got me into West Brom. It’s helped me massively and it will help others going forward.”
McAuley, as a senior player alongside skipper Jonny Evans and Hughes, performed an instrumental role in making sure the young guns were at ease throughout the 10-day tour.
During training he was impressed by their attitude and application — especially Everton’s Under-23 ace Lavery, who really caught the eye with his power and technical ability.
McAuley knows this trip may not produce an immediate star for boss O’Neill, but is adamant Northern Ireland will reap the benefits in years to come.
“You’re around people all the time, different people,” stated McAuley. “The lads feel comfortable the next time they come into the squad. There are no egos in our squad anyway,