Paddy McNair: Hopefully I’ll play another major tournament with Northern Ireland
Paddy McNair may have been the elder statesman of Northern Ireland’s side in Italy on Thursday night but he is certain he has many years ahead of him as he hopes to help this young squad to a major tournament.
McNair, 30, was the only player north of 24 in the starting XI for the 2-0 World Cup qualifying play-off defeat to Italy in Bergamo.
The Hull defender is, alongside the 35-year-old Josh Magennis, one of only two players left from the squad that went to Euro 2016 but McNair believes he will get another chance on a big stage given the huge strides taken by his young team-mates.
“There’s so many good players,” McNair told the Press Association. “I think people think I’m old but I’m actually quite young! Maybe compared to the other lads.
“I hope I’m going to be playing for Northern Ireland for many years still to come and hopefully be part of another major tournament. (Thursday) was frustrating because I feel like they were there for the taking. We just didn’t take the opportunity.”
Northern Ireland were missing Sunderland defender Dan Ballard in Bergamo but defended well for long periods as 20-year-old Ruairi McConville reproduced the sort of outstanding form he has been showing for Norwich lately, playing alongside McNair and captain Trai Hume at the back.
For McNair, who used to play alongside the likes of Jonny Evans, Gareth McAuley and Craig Cathcart for Northern Ireland, it is easy to forget how inexperienced some of his young team-mates still are at this level.
“To be honest, it doesn’t feel any different,” he said. “They’re so talented and there’s such a good understanding of the game at such a young age.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Jonny Evans or Ruairi McConville beside me at 20 years old. They’re ready for the level and when you’re on the pitch it definitely feels like that.”
Northern Ireland will now need to put their major tournament ambitions on the backburner with the Euro 2028 qualifying campaign still 18 months away. The next competitive fixtures come in September when they start their Nations League campaign away to Georgia.
First up is a friendly away to Wales that neither side wants to be playing in – a meeting of two nations whose World Cup dreams ended on Thursday.
But McNair said they must use any opportunity they have to take another step forward.
“It’s another opportunity,” he said. “Maybe it’s for some of the lads who didn’t get on the pitch on Thursday, I’m not too sure.
“But I think every game you play for Northern Ireland, a friendly especially, is a time to learn and to grow as a team.”