Michael O'Neill says he has no doubts that Shea Charles could be a smash-hit in the Premier League after the midfielder missed out on a chance to reach the top-flight following the 'Spygate' saga.

The Southampton man was in line to appear at Wembley after helping the Saints reach the Championship play-off final after a last-four aggregate win against Middlesbrough.

However, the south coast club were expelled from the final by the English Football League (EFL) after admitting to spying on opponents on three occasions this season, including Middlesbrough earlier this month.

It meant Boro were reinstated, which they lost out to Hull City in the decider, with Saints also docked four points for next season.

placeholder image — Northern Ireland's Shea Charles (centre) would shine in the Premier League says Michael O'Neill

Charles has been linked with a move to the Premier League and O'Neill has full faith that the 22-year-old has all the attributes to compete on the big stage.

"Shea can play in the Premier League," O'Neill said.

"There's no doubt about that...I have absolutely no doubts whatsoever about that.

"I'm disappointed for him, obviously, and how that situation played out but I have no doubts that Shea has a lot of admirers in the Premier League.

"But I'll get a chance to chat to him next week in depth about it. I don't like to get too involved with club matters with players when they're with their clubs."

Whilst Charles reflects on what might have been, fellow Northern Ireland internationalists Dan Ballard and Trai Hume have booked their tickets into European football next season.

The pair are set to play in the Europa League after Sunderland marked a dream return to the Premier League by finishing seventh in the standings.

"Brilliant...what a season the two boys have had,” added O’Neill, who signed a four-year extension to his contract to remain as Northern Ireland manager.

"Dan's has been a little bit more interrupted by injury but I think his impact on the pitch when he played was huge

"Trai has been brilliant…to play the number of games he has, to play in the number of positions he's played, it's great to see him score in the final game of the season as well.

"I think what he's shown is not only his versatility but also his level of play. One thing that Trai's done throughout his whole career is every time he's been asked to step up, he has.

"When he went to Sunderland in League One, he had to fight to get in the team. He did that. He got into the Championship and he established himself in their team...now he's in the Premier League.

"He's one of the few players that helped Sunderland get to that level who has been a major player for them this season.

"He's just one of those players that every time he's asked to step up, similarly at international level, when we've put him in the team at a young age and not a huge amount of games under his belt at Sunderland, he handled the situation really well.

"I think you see a player that's grown not just in what he brings on the pitch but his leadership, what he is as a lad, and he's been great when he's captained the squad.

"He's a big, big player for us in terms of his influence on and off the pitch now.”