'The most important game we have now' - Michael O’Neill wary of suspension threat for some of Northern Ireland’s stars
Michael O’Neill will go into Northern Ireland’s final World Cup qualifying Group A game against Luxembourg carefully managing four players who are on a yellow card despite not knowing for certain if they risk suspension for the play-off to come in March.
Trai Hume, Justin Devenny, Josh Magennis and Jamie Reid have all picked up a yellow card in this campaign so far and although O’Neill assumes another booking on Monday night would rule them out in March, his request to UEFA for clarification on the rules is yet to receive a reply.
“We have asked for clarification on that,” O’Neill said. “As yet we haven’t got it. But as it is worded at the moment, it would appear that they would be (suspended).
“Having spoken to other associations, I think that’s the way that everyone who is in that situation is treating it unless we get clarification to the contrary.
“I suppose two bookings, you miss the next game, and the next game would be a play-off. That’s the way we have to approach it at this point in time, unless we hear differently.”
In September last year, FIFA said it had “granted the request submitted by UEFA to cancel all cautions that have not resulted in a sending-off or a suspension prior to the play-offs of the Preliminary Competition to the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
Suspensions have been costly for Northern Ireland in this campaign. Conor Bradley’s absence was keenly felt in the 1-0 home defeat to Germany last month, and Ethan Galbraith was a big miss in Friday’s 1-0 loss in Slovakia which ended hopes of a top-two finish in the group.
Daniel Ballard and George Saville will be missing on Monday night, with Ballard sent off late on in Kosice where Saville was booked.
To add to O’Neill’s problems, Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Jamie Reid both missed training on Sunday with back problems.
Friday’s defeat, particularly the manner of it with a disputed stoppage-time goal from Tomas Bobcek, stung Northern Ireland badly, but while it meant there is nothing riding on the Luxembourg clash, O’Neill has no sense of this being a dead rubber. All eyes are now on March.
“This is the only preparation game we have for the play-off, so this is the most important game we have now,” O’Neill added.
“We’ll have to look at what we do in terms of the line-up and there’ll be opportunities maybe for us to find out about some players as well that maybe haven’t had loads of minutes.
“(We want) a good performance, an energetic performance, freshness to the team and to play on the front foot, to finish the camp on a positive note and to look forward to March.”
Isaac Price said Monday was still a “massive” game for Northern Ireland even without anything riding on the result.
“We’re a young team and there’s always a chance for us to learn,” he said. “International games don’t come around too often so every game we have, we’ve got to make the most of.”
Price has eight goals and one assist in his last 12 internationals, despite not finding the net in any of the last three.
“I think I’m due a goal, aren’t I?!” Price said. “I’ve not scored in three or four now so it’d be great to score tomorrow.”