O’Neill has faith in his youngsters

NORTHERN IRELAND boss Michael O’Neill believes the victory over Estonia was a coming-of-age for his younger players as they look to repeat the trick against Belarus.

Thursday’s 2-0 Euro 2020 qualifying success was Northern Ireland’s first competitive win since they beat Czech Republic in September 2017, before the likes of Kilmarnock’s Jordan Jones, Jamal Lewis and Bailey Peacock-Farrell were promoted to the squad.

‘For any of the younger players, those that have come in since the World Cup campaign, they haven’t played in qualifiers,’ O’Neill said.

‘The Nations League was in its infancy in terms of the significance of those games, they didn’t have the same intensity of a Euro or World Cup qualifying game. Certainly for Jordan, Jamal and Bailey, playing that game was a big thing to come through and to have won it.

‘All these things help you as an international player. Everyone was in good form and the key thing is to build on that.’

Jones impressed on the left wing as Northern Ireland looked to both wingers to create openings on Thursday, with his cross leading to Niall McGinn’s 56th-minute opener.

The 24-year-old, earning his fifth cap, was left out of Kilmarnock’s recent match against Rangers — a club he will join in the summer.

‘Jordan was very positive,’ O’Neill added. ‘He’ll have to adapt his game a bit from what he does with his club. He’s enjoyed being away and that showed in his performance.’

Belarus suffered a 4-0 defeat in Holland on Thursday, but O’Neill added: ‘They’ll possibly pose a greater threat than Estonia did.’