Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
We’ll Scho there with positivity
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Russia U21 Northern Ireland U21 Euro U21 qualifier, 5pm
BY IAN PARKER NORTHERN Ireland manager John Schofield has told his young players to take a positive attitude into the daunting Euro qualifying double-header against Russia and Spain.
His side take on the top two seeds in Group C away from home, first facing Russia in Khimki before heading to Seville to meet a Spain side that has won both of their opening fixtures on the road to Euro 2023.
“We approach it like we try and approach every game - in a positive frame of mind,” said Schofield, who suffered a 4-1 defeat in Malta in his first game in charge but rebounded with a 1-0 win over Slovakia in Lurgan last month.
“As we’ve seen from the last games, anybody can beat anybody. You’ve got to turn up on the day, carry out the game-plan and make sure you fully buy in as we always do. There’s a strategy and a process, how we think we can get a positive result so we go out and try to do it.
“There’s a real good buzz around the place. It’s not often you play away twice in the same camp, it’s really good and a massive learning curve for these young players.”
Ethan Galbraith’s penalty earned the three points against Slovakia and the Manchester United youngster is once again in a squad reinforced by the return of fellow midfielder Alfie Mccalmont - who was on senior duty last month and Cliftonville striker Paul O’neill.
Schofield said of O’neill who scored three goals in the last qualifying campaign: “He’s a really good team player both on and off the pitch and helps create a really good environment.”