BARA WANTS MUCH BETTER

go into the Slovakia game having been beaten by Austria and if you then go and lose the next one, it’s doesn’t do any good for people’s confidence.” Sunderland right-back Conor Mclaughlin (above) was one player who offered a timely reminder of his qualities in a rare start against Austria.

And Baraclough hopes others grab their chance at the Ullevaal Stadion to leave him with a selection headache for the Slovakia showdown in Belfast on November 12.

“If I’m debating two or three positions, then I know we have good competition and there’s nothing better for a manager,” he said.

“I haven’t had a lack of that and there were one or two frustrating conversations at the end of last month with players not involved.

“Players want to be playing games when they come away and you can’t keep everyone happy in that respect.

“I’m delighted someone like Conor came in and played a 90 minutes that told me he wants to be involved, that he enjoys playing for his country and relishes that challenge.”

Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, with 27 goals in 27 games for club and country this calendar year, bagged two for Norway in last month’s 5-1 win at Windsor Park.

The 20-year-old also pounced for his first international hat-trick in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Romania, bringing his national tally to six goals in six caps.

“You’re maybe hoping Dortmund will have an arrangement with the Norwegian manager Lars Lagerback that he doesn’t play,” smiled Baraclough.

“On the other hand you want to play against the best players. If we want to prepare to go to a Euros, top teams and top players are something we’re going to come up against. A lot of the teams you could come up against at the Euros will have these big players.”