Magennis Praises Ni 'fearlessness And Athleticism'

Long-serving Northern Ireland striker Josh Magennis has highlighted nan existent squad's "fearlessness and athleticism" arsenic captious ingredients successful them becoming a superior unit to beryllium reckoned pinch again successful caller times.

It is almost 2 years since Michael O'Neill's broadside achieved nan 2-0 location triumph complete Denmark which is credited arsenic marking a revival successful their fortunes.

Their progression since past has seen them triumph their Nations League group and beryllium connected nan verge of securing a spot successful nan play-offs for adjacent summer's World Cup.

An array of breathtaking young talent has produced a bid of swashbuckling performances and affirmative results successful nan forthcoming qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg would beryllium a fitting measurement to information retired their Group A campaign.

"The point that stands retired astir for maine is nan fearlessness that they [the young players] have. We don't fearfulness anyone," reflected nan 84-times capped Exeter City forward.

"Also nan athleticism that we bring to games, we aren't acrophobic of running, we aren't acrophobic of doing nan difficult yards and if teams aren't consenting to lucifer america we tin predominate nan crippled successful that way."

Having hit Luxembourg distant and Slovakia astatine home, on pinch producing creditable performances successful 2 defeats by group leaders Germany, Northern Ireland beryllium 3rd successful nan table, but pinch nan 2nd spot which would unafraid a spot successful nan play-offs adjacent March very overmuch successful their sights.

Ethan Galbraith will beryllium suspended for nan gathering pinch nan Slovakians connected Friday however, pinch chap midfield mainstays Ali McCann and Shea Charles, positive defender Brodie Spencer and goalkeeper Pierce Charles, ruled retired done injury.

"The temper is high. I deliberation that comes from really we've applied ourselves and nan results we've managed to get successful this group," added Magennis.

"There's nary denying nan value that we're missing successful these games but erstwhile they can't play it's an opportunity for others to measurement successful and return that chance, arsenic group person done before."

O'Neill's broadside are apt to beryllium capable to trust connected their Nations League occurrence arsenic a way into nan play-off semi-finals should they neglect to decorativeness arsenic runners-up successful their group but taking that 2nd spot could pull a much favourable draw.

"As overmuch arsenic we unrecorded successful nan infinitesimal we cognize what could perchance hap astir nan area successful March," said Magennis.

"But no-one's really over-talking astir whether we decorativeness 2nd aliases third, aliases having a much favourable tie aliases not.

"We're not really bothered who we play against, because I deliberation we tin springiness anyone a bully tally for it."

Thirty-five-year-old Magennis and Paddy McNair are nan only members of nan coming squad who were portion of nan group which helped their state beforehand to a first awesome finals successful 30 years erstwhile they qualified for Euro 2016 successful France.

Magennis believes nan existent harvest person nan imaginable to make it to a first World Cup finals since 1986.

"Me and Paddy are nan only ones left, different than Michael and nan unit and Davo [Steven Davis, adjunct coach], who person really witnessed what it's for illustration to play astatine a awesome tournament. We can't physically picture what it's for illustration to nan caller boys coming through, what it meant.

"You wouldn't want it to beryllium a squad filled pinch truthful overmuch dream and truthful overmuch ambition and truthful overmuch talent and not beryllium capable to definitive that to nan highest imaginable assemblage and that is astatine a awesome tournament.

"To get to different awesome tourney would beryllium astir apt cherry connected nan cake."

O'Neill is successful his 2nd spell arsenic NI boss, having taken up nan reins again successful December 2022 aft a play successful nine shot arsenic head of Stoke City.

Magennis highlights immoderate of nan attributes he believes his world head possesses.

"First of all, obviously, he's tactically very, very astute.

"He knows nan crippled of shot wrong out, and he brings successful nan correct group to do nan correct positions successful position of his staff, truthful there's nary 1 present that's conscionable present for nan liking of it. Everyone has a domiciled and responsibility.

"He is simply a massive, monolithic believer successful you person to beryllium capable to get astir nan shot pitch. If you don't run, you will ne'er play successful his shot team, sloppy of really bully you are connected nan ball.

"He's ever managed to play players and play a statement that gets nan champion retired of that definite player. It's not successful position of getting nan champion players connected nan pitch. It's what will bring nan champion retired of this statement for his team."

Man-management is different affirmative quality, according to nan forward.

"He ever manages to get nan champion retired of nan players successful position of their strengths, and that's been proven from nan likes of Isaac Price, Ethan Galbraith, Pierce Charles, Shea Charles, Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, each these immense array of players.

"Some of them person played for Northern Ireland earlier they've played for their clubs, and he ever has that knack, and he gives you that spot and that belief.

"It's conscionable astir going and expressing yourself, truthful you're capable to play pinch that freedom. You're not playing nether pressure."