THE FUTURE’S WHYTE

Evans hails debut boy Gavin & other exciting young starlets

CORRY EVANS has backed Gavin Whyte to continue pulling up trees after felling Israel 106 seconds into his Northern Ireland debut.

The Oxford United winger scored with his very first touch on Tuesday night to bag the third goal in a commanding 3-0 friendly win at Windsor Park.

It was the latest chapter of a fairytale start to full-time football for Whyte, who has three goals in six games for the League One club since joining from Crusaders in July.

Evans (inset) has been impressed how quickly the former Irish League player of the year has adapted to life in England and suspects there’s more to come from the 22-year-old.

“To score with his first touch was just incredible,” said the Blackburn Rovers midfielder. “Gavin looked really sharp in training all week and I’m delighted for him.

“He’s direct, he’s pacy, good at one-v-ones and has an eye for goal, so he brings a lot. He also gets to the byline and gets crosses in

“I’ve actually been keeping tabs on him and he has scored a few at

Oxford already this season, so

I’m really made up for him.

He’s a great lad.”

Evans believes Whyte, livewire Norwich City left-back Jamal Lewis, 20, and 21-year-old Leeds

United keeper Bailey

Peacock-farrell all bring a freshness to the squad.

Add in the recent emergence of cultured Middlesbrough midfielder

George Saville plus Kilmarnock winger Jordan Jones and Michael

O’neill has selection headaches ahead.

“The squad is probably the strongest I’ve seen it,” said Evans. “Of course we’re disappointed to lose the likes of Chris Brunt to retirement and so on but that’s international football.

“Players come and go over a period of time so it’s nice to see the new boys come in and do well. They’ve all settled in really well.

“It’s hard to believe the likes of Jamal Lewis is only 20 years of age. He’s a really good player and you wouldn’t know he was 20 from his performances.”

Evans, Saville, captain Steven Davis, Oliver Norwood and Paddy Mcnair –who started at right-back against Israel – are all vying for three spots in O’neill’s 4-3-3 formation.

Will Grigg, who scored in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Bosnia, is also wrestling for an attacking berth alongside Kyle Lafferty, Liam Boyce, Conor Washington and Josh Magennis. “Michael mentioned the competition we have right throughout the squad after the Israel game,” said Evans.

“We effectively have five strikers and five central midfielders, which is great.”

Evans believes O’neill will pocket an array of positives from Saturday’s vibrant display against the Bosnians and Tuesday’s win over the Israelis.

Next up is an away doubleheader in the UEFA Nations League against Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina next month.

“Saturday’s defeat was a disappointing one but the result didn’t match up with our performance.

“We were probably a lot more clinical in front of goal against Israel and that was the difference in the two games. “Overall, we can take a lot of confidence from both performances and look forward to our next game in Austria and see what we can do there.”