WHYTE IS RIGHT FOR BIG MOVE

O’neill backs Gavin to be success like Smyth

NORTHERN Ireland boss Michael O’neill believes Crusaders star Gavin Whyte is custom made for a career in England.

League Two’s Crawley Town have made a verbal offer for the Irish League player of the year but Championship giants Leeds United are also poised to make a move.

O’neill, who yesterday handed Whyte (right) a senior call-up to his squad to tour Panama and Costa Rica, said: “He’s a young player with a lot of potential and I think he’s at the right stage of his career to move across to full-time football.”

Uncapped Scunthorpe midfielder Cameron Mcgeehan is also in.

MICHAEL O’NEILL is backing Crusaders star Gavin Whyte to make a similar splash to Paul Smyth if he seals a summer move to full-time football.

Whyte, who has been named in O’neill’s Northern Ireland squad for the summer tour of Panama and Costa Rica, is being strongly linked with Leeds and Crawley Town.

And O’neill believes the 22-year-old has the mentality and skill set to follow in the footsteps of former Linfield star Smyth, who joined QPR last August.

Smyth scored the winner on his international debut in March’s 2-1 friendly victory over South Korea and was recently voted the London club’s young player of the year.

O’neill said: “Gavin has the capability to make a real impact if given the chance. He is very similar to Paul Smyth. To be fair, Paul probably surprised us a little bit with the progress he has made. You might think it would have taken Paul a little bit longer because of his stature but that hasn’t hindered him at all.

“Should Gavin get an opportunity to go into full-time football, he’s equipped to hit the ground running and if he does, then automatically he’s going to come on to my radar.”

Whyte links up with the senior squad on the back of his best ever season for the Crues, during which he won both the Ulster and NI Footballer of the Year awards.

The Markets man, whose 24 goals helped fire the Seaview club to title and Shield glory, also caught the eye for Northern Ireland U21s in recent Euro qualifiers against Spain and Iceland.

O’neill said: “Football wise, Gavin has played a lot of games and he has been exceptional this season. I was also really impressed by his recent performances for the U21s.

“Reading between the lines, he’s on the verge of moving to England and hopefully his inclusion in this squad helps that. It is vital for him to get that move across the water. At the end of the day you cannot have a sustained international career if you’re playing part time football.”

Also included in the panel to face Panama on May 29 and Costa Rica on June 3 is Scunthorpe United midfielder Cameron Mcgeehan, Bradford City striker Shay Mccartan and Leeds United keper Bailey Peacock-farrell.