Younggun Bailey eyes upalong reign as NI’s number one

IF Bailey Peacock-Farrell can bring his club form to the international stage then Michael O’Neill’s number one problem will be solved. Of all the goalkeepers available to the Northern Ireland boss, the Leeds United appears to boast the safest pair of hands.

Even the England goalkeeping coaches have made a move for the 21-year-old from Darlington, but he’s confident of savouring a few memorable adventures with Northern Ireland.

Motherwell’s Trevor Carson and Michael McGovern, who has had limited first team action at Norwich City, also want to be the first name on O’Neill’s teamsheet, but the solid form of Peacock-Farrell this season appears to have earned him a starting role against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Uefa Nations League opener at Windsor Park on Saturday.

Carson started against Panama and Costa Rica on the Central American summer tour, while Peacock-Farrell made his debut in the second half against Panama. Prior to that, Euro 2016 hero McGovern had been O’Neill’s first choice.

Peacock-Farrell, who began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Leeds in 2013, has secured the number one jersey at Elland Road through a string of outstanding performances.

In May, he won the Young Player of the Year accolade at Leeds’ annual award ceremony, and this season he has matured even more under new boss Marcelo Bielsa.

The Argentine can be a hard taskmaster, making sure the players pick up litter after training, but Peacock-Farrell is gaining confidence and experience as he “learns on the job.”

Reflecting in his impressive progress, he said: “Playing games regularly provides confidence, but it’s the experience of having another game and another game, and you’re learning on the job.

“If you’re playing more games then you’re learning faster and you’re learning a lot more.

“To be doing that regularly, I feel that I am a better player now than I was last season. Hopefully I can maintain that (improvement).

“My relationship with Marcelo is positive, it’s really good.

“He’s shown that trust, he watched all the games and decided to go ahead with me. Obviously I had to prove myself again in pre-season and show him that he made the right choice. That trust is a big deal.

“He has that already, both from myself and the team.

“He is a world renowned coach and for Leeds to get a manager of that calibre is a massive statement to the rest of the league and the fans.

“To have the opportunity to work with a manager with the experience he has can only benefit you.

“He works us hard and there were times we were going around the training ground for hours picking up litter.

“We are aware of the jobs we have as role models and the sacrifices fans make to go to games.”

Asked if Bielsa (inset) had set out what he wants from you, he joked: “Basically, the main bit, obviously you have got to keep the ball out of the back of the net — that’s a given, isn’t it?

“But also to be more of an option to the outfielders, almost like another outfielder as such, the way that we’re playing, just to provide that last option to recycle the ball and get it out to the other side, make it easier for the other players.

“It’s very much ‘play out from the back at all costs’ now. We’ve been training hard in pre-season on these new ways.

“You can probably term it as a ‘sweeper-keeper’ almost, that’s probably what you’d describe me as at the minute.

“I was a left-winger at Middlesbrough, from eight to 12 or 13, when I swapped, I wasn’t really enjoying it as much — I much preferred diving around, saving balls.

“I’ve always been very comfortable with my feet, maybe because of my outfield past, but also in joining in with outfield players in training and warmups, I’m very much involved in pretty much all the training we do.

“I am very comfortable with how we play and the decision the manager made.

“I’m working with Marcos Abad, he was brought in under