Ruairi McConville believes Northern Ireland’s pride in their defensive record can help them pick up where they left off last month and secure promotion in the Nations League.

Northern Ireland came through a challenging quadruple header unbeaten and, as the only team left in the entire competition yet to concede a goal, sitting top of Group B2 and with the prospect of promotion to the top level in their own hands.

The challenge for Northern Ireland is to carry the momentum forward after a month apart, but McConville does not expect that to be a problem given the position Michael O’Neill’s side have put themselves in.

“We’ve got so much pride to take from it,” McConville said. “The main thing obviously being that we haven’t conceded a goal, we’re top of the group, and we’re unbeaten. We want to go out and continue that.

placeholder image — Northern Ireland's Ruairi McConville (left) and Callum Marshall following the game against Georgia in Belfast. (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press)

“Of course we can be proud of that and we can use that to get that momentum back.”

Norwich defender McConville played a key role in those four clean sheets, coming off the bench in the opening 1-0 win over Georgia, then starting the next three games – goalless draws at home to Hungary and Georgia either side of a 3-0 win away to Ukraine – after injury ruled out Dan Ballard.

“It’s something we should be proud of, and it’s something the whole group has worked hard to do,” he said of the record. “Everyone’s played a part in keeping the goals out of the net.

“If we can keep that run going, it’s brilliant. That’ll be our aim, but we don’t want to focus too much on it and let it affect us. But we’ll work on it and try to keep it going.”

Northern Ireland host Ukraine on Saturday, looking to protect top spot in the group ahead of a trip to Budapest next week which could prove to be the group decider against Hungary.

“It’s a big opportunity for us,” McConville added. “There’s been a lot of work that has gone into it, and it’s a big chance for us. Obviously it’s two tough games.

“We just want to get rewarded for the work we’ve already done, but we’ve got to park that aside at the minute and focus on these two games.

“It’s sort of a fresh start. We’re trying not to dwell too much on the results we’ve already got and go into these with a clear mind and focus on one thing – to top the group and get promoted.

“It’s important to go in with confidence but not to think that it’s going to be easy because we’ve done well so far and that results are just going to happen.

“We have to prepare well and do everything right going into the game on Saturday.”