Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
It’s important to bed in the new faces in our side admits boss Mike
next March,” said O’Neill. “If we go through the Nations League and people say we are relegated, I’m not going to have sleepless nights over that.
“I have to try and develop the team and introduce new players into the team. The only way to do that is to test them against this quality of opposition.”
Bedding the likes of Bailey Peacock-Farrell, 21, and Jamal Lewis (inset top) who is a year younger into his starting line-up for another crack at the Euro finals is more important than the here and now.
O’Neill added: “We have young players and this is a tough level to be playing at in European football.
“But if you look at our two games we were narrowly beaten in Vienna and we could and should have taken something from the game.
“We also should have beaten Bosnia in Belfast last month. We have come out on the wrong side of two results and I think has been a little bit
it harsh on us.” Bosnia know a win tomorrow would virtually guarantee top spot and promotion to the top tier of the Nations League for its next edition in 2020.
O’Neill, who is without Will Grigg (hamstring) but hoping Liam Boyce boosts his striking options by recovering from a knee problem, added: “Bosnia are in a very strong position.
“They’ll be sitting waiting in Sarajevo knowing if they beat us it’s going to be very difficult for them not to win this group. That’s a nice position for them to be in.
“It’s going to be a tough challenge for us and we’ve got to try and inject a little bit freshness into the team.”
Kyle Vassell (inset bottom) came on to make his debut in Austria as a second half sub and the Rotherham striker could find himself involved in Sarajevo.
“The mood is one of frustration because the boys believed, we felt we could have got something out of the game definitely,” Vassell said after the game.
“But that’s football and we have to pick ourselves up and go again on Monday.
“On a personal note, it’s a milestone in my career, my international debut and I couldn’t be happier.”
We have young players and this is a tough level to
be playing at