NAIR ELSE I’D RATHER BE!

Sunderland defender parks transfer talk to focus solely on his country

SUNDERLAND’S Paddy Mcnair has put speculation on his club future on ice to focus on securing a regular starting slot in Michael O’neill’s Northern Ireland team.

It was reported earlier this week that Brighton and Hove Albion had a £2m offer rejected for the midfielder who suffered relegation to League One with the Black Cats in April.

But while O’neill believes Mcnair is “Premier League quality” and destined to return to England’s top flight, the 23-year-old insists his only focus is on his country’s Central American tour.

Northern Ireland drew 0-0 with Panama, who are in England’s World Cup group, on Wednesday and conclude their trip against Costa Rica in San Jose on Sunday.

On O’neill’s Premier League recommendation following the Panama game, Mcnair said: “It’s great when you have a manager believing in you.

“I love playing for Michael (below) because he gives me so much confidence. I’ve learned a lot off him since I first came into the squad and I think I’ve definitely improved.

“If I can get back to the Premier League, that would be great, but I just want to concentrate on these

Northern Ireland games and look at that afterwards.”

Mcnair is hoping to secure a regular slot in the heart of the Northern Ireland midfield with the Nations League and Euro 2020 qualifiers on the horizon.

It won’t be easy though with captain Steven Davis, Oliver Norwood, George Saville and Corry Evans all vying for a starting role in O’neill’s preferred three man engine room.

Mcnair said: “If you look around the squad now there are players fighting for every position. Moreso in the last two years, but that’s a positive thing for the team.

“That’s why we’ve done so well. Every day in training you’re working hard to impress Michael, but you know there’s always someone who can take your place.

“It’s really good to have competition, because it brings out the best in the team.” Mcnair, who missed 12 months of action following a cruciate injury in November 2016, is relishing being back in the thick of action for club and country.

He said: “The last year and a half was really difficult, more mentally... in the gym every day, watching games from the stands.

“Words can’t really explain how frustrating it was, it’s great to be back. Playing the last two months of the season and coming here with Northern Ireland is great.”