Talking points ahead of Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia
Northern Ireland return to World Cup qualifying action on Friday when they face Slovakia in Kosice.
This is their penultimate Group A fixture before Luxembourg visit Windsor Park on Monday.
Here the PA news agency looks at the key talking points ahead of the game.
CRUNCH TIME
Friday’s game will determine whether or not Northern Ireland still have anything to play for in their final Group A game next week. Win and Michael O’Neill’s side will be on course for a top-two finish. A draw would mean the fight for a play-off place is likely to come down to goal difference – assuming Northern Ireland beat Luxembourg on Monday. But lose, and any chance of getting out of this group is over. When the draw was first made, the expectation was that Germany would comfortably top the group, leaving Northern Ireland and Slovakia to scrap over second, but Slovakia’s opening win over Germany gave them an early edge which Northern Ireland have been trying to make up ever since.
MIDFIELD CRISIS
There is never a good time for several injuries, but this game is certainly a bad one. With Shea Charles, Ali McCann and Brodie Spencer in the treatment room and Ethan Galbraith suspended, four of the players who started last month’s 1-0 loss to Germany will be missing in Kosice, forcing O’Neill into an extensive rejig in midfield. It will be a huge test of the depth in this young squad.
BRADLEY BACK
Though others are missing, there will be the welcome return of Conor Bradley, who missed the Germany defeat through suspension. Bradley has been in excellent form for Liverpool – albeit given a rough time by Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku on Sunday. His energy and inventiveness were sorely missed against Germany, and with so many holes to fill elsewhere his return is much needed.
STRONGER SLOVAKIA
Slovakia came to Belfast last month missing several star names but are closer to full strength this time around with both Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka and Atletico Madrid full-back David Hancko back in the squad. Lobotka is one of the best number sixes in European football and his return, at a time when Northern Ireland’s own midfield is depleted, could be critical.
LEWIS RETURNS
O’Neill has made one late addition to his squad, calling up Jamal Lewis for the first time since October 2024. Since then, Lewis has endured a difficult few months, seeing his Sao Paulo loan cut short by an injury that ended his season before Christmas and then left him still rehabbing while without a club this summer after he was released by Newcastle. A short-term deal at Preston has handed him a lifeline and brought him back into O’Neill’s thinking amid the injury problems. However, Lewis has made only one start among three appearances for Preston, and his match fitness will be a concern.