Northern Ireland star gives his view on extended international window and why young players 'only make us better'

In a major change to the international calendar this year, teams will play four matches rather than the traditional two with September and October windows merged into one before November goes ahead as normal.

FIFA have highlighted player welfare and a desire to minimise disruption to the club game as key reasons behind the switch.

In Northern Ireland’s 2024 Nations League campaign, Michael O’Neill’s side played their first game against Luxembourg on September 5 – 20 days earlier than Friday’s showdown with Georgia in Tbilisi.

That delay has allowed Price and his team-mates to play more games for their respective clubs before arriving for international duty.

Price, who has developed into one of Northern Ireland’s most important players, has featured in eight Championship matches for West Brom and started the campaign by scoring braces against Burnley and Newcastle United.

The 22-year-old feels he’s entering the current international window in better shape and is also looking forward to spending an extended period of time with his Northern Ireland colleagues.

"Personally, I prefer it,” said Price. “Last season, I think we'd played four or five matches before the international break and then you play another four or five before the next.

"When you get to spend this amount of time together, it helps. You’re able to get more information and you’re getting four games in a row. We’ve players here who enjoy that.”

Still aged just 22, Price remains young in terms of years, but the former Everton attacker has already amassed 32 international caps and joined Northern Ireland’s exclusive hat-trick club – which also includes the likes of George Best and David Healy.

Price, Shea Charles and Trai Hume are all aged 24 or under but have each earned over 30 caps, quickly developing into experienced players in O’Neill’s squad.

They’ve now been joined by a further crop of youngsters with teenagers Braiden Graham, Ceadach O’Neill and Kieran Morrison included once again for this Nations League window, while Blackburn Rovers defender Tom Atcheson only turned 20 earlier this week.

The 28-player panel named by O’Neill included 17 players under the age of 25 with an overall average age of 24.

Another Nations League campaign – Northern Ireland have been promoted to League B after winning their League C group in 2024 – will act as further preparation as the nation looks towards qualifying for a major tournament.

Price has been impressed with how an array of young players have settled seamlessly into international life and is now determined to take the next step.

"We’re a young squad as it is and they’ve fit in perfectly,” added Price. “It’s an easy group to fit into.

"They’ve done well on the pitch too, they’re all quality players and they’ll only make us better.

"We’re young in our age but there’s quite a lot of caps between us. It’s now about us taking responsibility, we’ll just take it as it comes.”