Michael O’Neill feels the transfer window was “really positive” for his Northern Ireland squad after a host of top talent secured high-profile moves – and has revealed the role he plays in terms of support.

Shea Charles set a new Northern Ireland record transfer fee with his £30million switch to Fulham and has featured in all four of their Premier League matches so far this season.

Younger brother Pierce sealed a return to Manchester City before joining Queens Park Rangers on loan while Ethan Galbraith made an eight-figure transfer to Stoke City from Championship rivals Swansea City.

Galbraith was joined at Stoke by Justin Devenny on deadline day while Callum Marshall, Jamie Donley, Michael Forbes and Kieran Morrison all made positive moves to increase minutes.

placeholder image — Shea Charles has starred for Fulham following his record-breaking move. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

All of the aforementioned players have been included in O’Neill’s squad for an upcoming Nations League window and the Northern Ireland chief is delighted with how the summer played out.

"Yeah, it was really positive,” said O’Neill. “You look at the situation where we've got the likes of Shea, it's a great move for him, and already he's made an impact there.

"I saw him in the game against Crystal Palace and thought he played extremely well and he was very good again on Saturday (against Liverpool).

"We've seen players get promoted with their clubs, the likes of Justin and Ethan making moves, Jamie Donley out on loan, Callum Marshall going to Luton, Pierce obviously going back to Manchester City.

"It's been a positive window from that respect. There's a lot of players in good positions at their club now.

"Over the last couple of years they've gone from maybe not always being a starter to now starting every game – Terry Devlin is a great example of that over the last two years, he's become a player now that is a full international and he starts every week for Portsmouth.

"This window has been positive, but I think that's just a natural progression of where the players are.

"As they get older, they play more first team football, they're more ready, not only for their clubs but also for the international team as well.”

O’Neill spent time with 13 different clubs throughout his own playing career so has an insight into the transfer process and how crucial decision-making is.

While players are surrounded by sources of advice, O’Neill has revealed he’s always available to talk through potential moves.

"A player's club career is down to themselves,” he added. “I always offer if they want to talk about it.

"They will have other people that will advise them – agents, parents, people around them that they will listen to.

"The majority of them will contact me...not all players do but the majority of them contact me and ask my opinion on if they have an opportunity and what that looks like.

"I can only give them my perspective whether I think it's going to help their international career, whether it's going to help their career in general, which I think is important as well.

"As a player, I moved around a lot and I'm conscious that at times not every move was the best move I could have made.

"So I do think that's very important that I try and give them the benefit of whatever little wisdom I have.”