DRAWING COMFORT

Momentum is key says Mike

MICHAEL O’NEILL believes that Northern Ireland have the quality and desire to hit the ground running in their Euro 2020 campaign.

Germany and the Netherlands are the big hitters in a daunting group and will be odds on favourites to take up the two qualifying spots in the pool.

But with Northern Ireland gifted a favourable opening schedule against Estonia and Belarus, O’neill will be hopeful of pocketing crucial early points as he bids to upset the odds.

“Momentum is key for me,” said O’neill. “The first four games in March and June are very important and it’s vital we’re in the mix in terms of points on the board.”

The former Newcastle

United midfielder speaks from experience having learned valuable lessons from the opening salvos of his three previous campaigns at the helm.

A dismal World Cup 2014 series began with only three points from a possible 12, while nine were pocketed from the opening four games of a successful Euro 2016 campaign.

In the last World Cup 2018 adventure, which ended in a play-off, Northern Ireland took seven from their first four games which included tough trips to the Czech Republic (0-0) and Germany (0-2). O’neill said: “Hungary away at the start of the Euro 2016 campaign was a difficult opening fixture, against a higher ranked team, but we won that game it set us up.

“One of the biggest games for us in that campaign was the Faroes game. It was very important we won that game and then you have momentum.

“In the recent World Cup qualifiers, the fact we had to go to Czech Republic and Germany in the first four games wasn’t easy, but we had seven points from those four games.

“To have seven points gave us all the belief we could carry it on. You’re then knocking on the door for qualification again, so it’s a factor.”

Despite ending the recent Nations League campaign without a point, O’neill took positives from the tempo and tone of his new-look team’s performances.

The likes of George Saville (inset), Jordan Jones, Jamal Lewis, Bailey Peacock-farrell and Gavin Whyte also gained crucial game time.

O’neill said: “Of course, it’ll be a big ask but I believe this team will only continue to get stronger with the younger players coming through.

“It’s also massively important that when teams come to Belfast, it’s going to be an intimidating atmosphere and our fans are brilliant at creating that.” NORTHERN IRELAND FIXTURES: March 21 ESTONIA (H); March 24 - BELARUS (H); June 8 Estonia (A); June 11 - Belarus (A); Sept 9 - GERMANY (H); Oct 10 - Netherlands (A); Nov 16 - NETHERLANDS H); Nov 19 - Germany (A).