Bradley is a rare talent for NI... an attacking threat
NORTHERN Ireland does a fine line in producing rugged defenders that can mix it with the best in Europe.
Terry Neill, Jimmy Nicholl, Mal Donaghy, Alan Mcdonald, Nigel Worthington, Aaron Hughes, Gareth Mcauley and Jonny Evans are just a few of the names that have graced the English top-flight whilst also representing the national team with distinction.
When young Conor Bradley made his international debut against Malta in 2021 — a buzzball of energy that wasn’t afraid to get stuck in — it was tempting to conclude that the Tyrone native was the next man to join that distinguished list.
But under the lights of Bucharest’s vast Arena Națională on Friday night, it quickly became apparent that the Liverpool youth product is so much more that.
He may wear the No.2 jersey for his country, but Bradley is far from the regulation rightback Northern Ireland fans are used to.
It was Bradley’s incredible burst up the right-flank that created Jamie Reid’s debut goal.
In just three seconds and three touches of the ball, he travelled 30 yards, turning defence into attack at lightning pace.
The final touch slipped in Shea Charles, who provided the assist for Reid. It was a thrilling goal the lit up an otherwise forgettable international friendly.
In recent months, we’ve become accustomed to seeing those sort of heroics from Bradley in the red of Liverpool. But it was still a thrill to see such a goal in the vivid green of Northern Ireland.
Cut from the same cloth as Anfield hero Trent Alexender-arnold, Bradley’s pace and athleticism allow him to bomb up-and-down that rightflank all day. He also has the passing range to split a defence right open, or whip in an inch-perfect cross.
Those attributes are exactly what is required for a modern-day right-back to succeed at the top end of the Premier League. He is at a club where the fans demand their team to play on the front foot and dominate possession, with fullbacks expected to contribute in the final third.
But international football is a whole different ball game, particularly when you play for a small country.
Inevitably, Northern Ireland spend large periods of many games without the ball. Defenders will be asked to sit deep and prioritise keeping things tight at the back, rather than gallivanting down the wings.
Deploying Bradley at rightback is arguably a waste of his incredible skillset.
Michael O’neill has already recognised this — on Friday night he played the Liverpool star at right wing-back, in a