Michael O’Neill excited to get ‘eyes on’ Ruairi McConville after teenager handed first Northern Ireland call-up
Michael O’Neill is eager to see what Ruairi McConville has to offer after handing the 19-year-old defender his first senior call-up ahead of Nations League games against Belarus and Luxembourg.
O’Neill has been left short of numbers at the back with both Paddy McNair and Eoin Toal sidelined by hamstring injuries, and has turned to Brighton’s 19-year-old McConville to provide an extra option.
“This was an opportunity to get eyes on Ruairi,” O’Neill told the PA news agency. “He’s been in our under-21s and he’s been a big part of the under-19s and I just felt it was a good chance to get him involved and have a look at him because there are no under-21 games in this window.
“I’ve had a good chat with (Brighton technical director) David Weir who obviously feels that he’s a young player with a high potential. He’s at a club which will develop him well, the steps Brighton will choose for him I’m sure will be the right ones in terms of his development.
“It’s a chance for us to bring him in and get eyes on him and to get the chance to work with him. We know what his qualities are. He’s a young centre-half, he’s mobile, he’s aggressive as well. It’s important for us to continue to develop the squad and it’s good to have him in.”
Although Toal and McNair are out, Daniel Ballard is back in the squad after missing last month’s fixtures with an ankle injury, having returned to training this week. O’Neill is optimistic the 25-year-old will fit to feature despite six weeks on the sidelines.
“Hopefully he can be involved at the weekend and then we’ll just have to assess him when he comes in,” O’Neill added.
“I’ve spoken to the player and he’s very keen to come, he believes he’ll be fit enough, and then we’ve just got to take it from there.”