Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STAY ON SENIORS
Stu hopes elder statesmen decide to play
STUART ELLIOTT hopes Michael O’neill’s decision to commit to Northern Ireland persuades senior stars to stay on board for the Euro 2020 campaign.
The likes of influential West Brom duo Gareth Mcauley and Chris Brunt were both said to be considering their international futures after the World Cup play-offs.
Mcauley turned 38 in December while 33-year-old Brunt admitted recently that playing on with Northern Ireland was “obviously something I’ll have to think about”.
With long-serving defender Aaron Hughes (38), captain Steven Davis (33) and Jamie Ward (31) also in their 30s, a period of transition lurks on the horizon.
But former 38-times capped winger Elliott (inset) is hopeful O’neill’s decision to sign a new Irish FA contract until 2024 will motivate others to commit for another campaign. “I hope so,” he said. “Keeping Michael as manager is massive because it retains that sense of camaraderie and momentum in the squad.
“He has created an enjoyable and successful environment for the players and I hope his decision persuades some of our senior players to remain on board.
“Gareth Mcauley and Chris Brunt are very important players – they’ve been there, done that in big games - and I hope Michael’s decision motivates them to stay on.
“The likes of Aaron Hughes has shown in recent times how important it is keeping senior players around. That experience, not only on the pitch but off it, is invaluable.
“It would be a massive plus to keep our senior stars for another campaign and I’m sure Michael is doing everything possible to achieve that.”
While O’neill hopes to keep the bulk of his panel together, he also plans to add a few new names to the equation with the new-look UEFA Nations League kicking off in September. QPR winger Paul Smyth and Norwich defender Jamal Lewis could both receive call-ups for next month’s South Korea friendly in Belfast or summer tour to Panama and Costa Rica.
Elliott said: “Michael will have his eye on one or two names who can squeeze through. He’s the perfect manager for the younger players to develop under and now that he’s signed a new contract, he will be given time to mould the squad moving forward.”
Elliott, a member of the famous Northern Ireland team that beat England in Belfast in 2005, isn’t surprised the Irish FA moved swiftly to offer O’neill a mega money salary in the region of £750,000-a-year.
“I think the Irish FA realised Michael was the foundation of everything that has been built over the past number of years. If the foundation goes, everything else crumbles,” he said.
“It makes sense to look after him financially because he has done a really amazing job.”