logo
Conor Bradley can deal with fresh competition at Liverpool, says Michael O'Neill

Conor Bradley can deal with fresh competition at Liverpool, says Michael O'Neill

Rhyl Journal22-05-2025

O'Neill has welcomed Bradley back into his Northern Ireland squad for the friendlies against Denmark and Iceland after the 21-year-old missed the March fixtures through injury, and Bradley will join up as the first Northern Ireland player to pick up a Premier League winners' medal since Jonny Evans in 2013.
Bradley took on a growing role in Arne Slot's side this season, making 28 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions despite some injury setbacks as he competed with Alexander-Arnold for the right-back spot.
A post shared by Conor Bradley (@conorbradley.03)
'You're not going to play at a club like Liverpool and not have a challenge for your position,' O'Neill told the PA news agency.
'The difference will be when Conor was a young player coming through he had to challenge an experienced player who had really established himself with a very successful and brilliant career and was a local hero. That's as tough as it gets in terms of trying to dislodge someone.
'So whatever Liverpool do in terms of recruitment it will be different because a player coming in will not be established in the way Alexander-Arnold was and Conor's already proven he can do the job…
'I think he's ready for whatever the challenge may be.'
A post shared by JUSTIN DEVENNY (@justindevenny_03)
Bradley is not the only Northern Ireland player to be celebrating a major trophy this season, with Crystal Palace's Justin Devenny lifting the FA Cup after being an unused substitute in the final against Manchester City last weekend.
'You want your players to grow, not only in how they play but how they are in terms of their personalities and the influence they have as well,' O'Neill add.
'Conor is an influential player in our group already but he comes in having been part of a championship-winning team at Liverpool so he's going to have the experience now from that. It's fabulous for him to have that.
'It's part of his progression and journey as a player and we benefit from that because he grows as a player. And we have Justin as well, he's part of an FA Cup-winning team and squad, and hopefully he feels the same way when he comes in.'
Squad locked in 🔒 #GAWA
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) May 22, 2025
As O'Neill prepares for Northern Ireland's friendly away to Denmark on June 7 and the meeting with Iceland in Belfast three days later, Bradley returns to the squad alongside Sunderland pair Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume, as well as Ali McCann and Dion Charles.
Ciaron Brown, Eoin Toal, Ross McCausland, Jordan Thompson and Josh Magennis miss out through injury, but O'Neill believes his squad is in better shape than it was in March as they go into the final warm-up games before the World Cup qualifying campaign begins in September.
'We're still missing one or two through injury, but I think overall we look a little bit stronger than we did in March,' he said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'International football gives belief you belong in Premier League'
'International football gives belief you belong in Premier League'

BBC News

time28 minutes ago

  • BBC News

'International football gives belief you belong in Premier League'

Former Northern Ireland and Leeds United wide man Stuart Dallas is part of BBC Sport NI's coverage of Tuesday's friendly with the Premier League is a dream for any player.I know how Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard feel after they won promotion with Sunderland, it's an incredible feeling and achieving it with Leeds was one of the highlights of my a big step up from the Championship, not only on the pitch but with everything that comes with it. There's more spotlight and every game you play is a big event that is shown all over the world. It's literally a different ball the pitch, you can see the difference between the top two divisions by how the promoted teams have struggled to bridge the gap after going up, but Trai and Daniel are more than capable of adapting and they've shown it at international level. That's always what gave me the belief I could perform well in the Premier League. I wasn't playing all the time with my club, but with Northern Ireland I was playing against some of the best players in the world and I always felt I held my on some of the best players from Germany or the Netherlands, it only added to the belief that I belonged at that level, and I'm sure Trai and Daniel will feel the could say the same for Conor Bradley at Liverpool and Justin Devenny at Crystal Palace too, as they were both playing international football before playing week in, week out for their great for belief, and having more players at the top level can only benefit the national team as a whole. I can relate a lot to Trai's journey to the Premier League. Like me, he started off in the Irish League and had a lot of senior games under his belt before he moved across to England.I had played between 150 and 200 games of senior football for Coagh United and Crusaders, and I can't speak enough about how much that prepares you to step up to professional football in England. I still had a lot of developing to do when I moved to Brentford, but it set me up so can be in an academy in England from the age of eight, and in a pre-academy even younger. I look at some players who haven't played a senior game by the age of 20 or 21 because they are stuck in youth football, and when they get their chance they struggle to adapt because it's hard to bridge that gap.I look back at my career now and I wouldn't have done it any other way, and I can see that Trai is reaping the rewards of that too. 'It's a new era for Northern Ireland' While the result in Denmark was disappointing, there are still positives to take from the game. Denmark deserved to win, and they are a level above where Northern Ireland currently it is where Michael O'Neill wants his team to be, and it was another good learning experience for his young particularly in the first half, they were very good against a strong and creative attack but they will want to improve going forward. They needed to be more brave on the ball. They made a great start with the goal but didn't really threaten after scoring, and I'm sure that will have disappointed that regard, I think Iceland in the perfect game to follow it up on Tuesday. As the home team, the onus is on you to take it to the opposition and play with the energy and desire to win the game. The crowd will play a role in that too, and we know how important Windsor Park can be.I know Michael likes to play with a back three, but I think he will set the team up a little bit different to get his key players on the ball to try and make something got a fantastic result in Scotland but they aren't of the same calibre as Denmark. They are probably in and around where Northern Ireland are and that presents an opportunity to be more of a goal threat. It's a new era for Northern Ireland, and that is highlighted by the fact that George Saville was the only player in the 26-strong squad over the age of 30. Paddy McNair would have been in there too if he wasn't injured, but it just shows how young this team Iceland game is the final chance to prepare for World Cup qualifying in September, and it's hard because these players are effectively learning on the job. The only way to prepare for big games is to keep playing strong teams and learn from any aren't any shortcuts in international football, and that is why Michael is keen to take on higher-level friendlies. The leadership group in the squad is young, but I'm seeing good qualities on the pitch. The turnaround for Tuesday will be a big test for them, but it's a great opportunity to end the camp on a high and take some momentum into World Cup qualifying. Stuart Dallas was speaking to BBC Sport NI's Andy Northern Ireland v Iceland on Tuesday, 10 June at 19:30 BST on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI; listen on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster and follow live text and in-play clips on BBC Sport website and app.

Uriah Rennie, the Premier League's first Black referee, dies at 65
Uriah Rennie, the Premier League's first Black referee, dies at 65

The Independent

time28 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Uriah Rennie, the Premier League's first Black referee, dies at 65

Uriah Rennie, the first Black referee in the Premier League, has died. He was 65. 'We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former chair and trailblazing referee, Uriah Rennie," the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association posted Sunday on X. 'Uriah made history as the Premier League's first Black referee, officiating over 300 top-flight matches between 1997 and 2008," the statement said. "He broke down barriers, shaped our football community and inspired generations to come." The Jamaica-born official grew up in Sheffield, northern England, and oversaw hundreds of matches starting with his breakthrough appointment when Derby hosted Wimbledon in August 1997. That game was abandoned, however, because the stadium lighting failed. Rennie told BBC News in April how, while on holiday in Turkey last year, he felt severe pain in his back and doctors discovered he had an inoperable neurological condition that confined him to a wheelchair. ___

PSG urged to sign £65m Arsenal star and Liverpool transfer flop
PSG urged to sign £65m Arsenal star and Liverpool transfer flop

Metro

time36 minutes ago

  • Metro

PSG urged to sign £65m Arsenal star and Liverpool transfer flop

PSG have been told to raid Arsenal and Liverpool to strengthen a squad that just lifted the Champions League trophy. Paris Saint-German enjoyed a spectacular season under Luis Enrique, finally succeeding in their quest to become European champions while continuing to dominate in Ligue 1. Given PSG's young and incredibly dynamic squad, areas of improvement are not obvious but Marcel Desailly has named two players he would 'like' to see arrive at the Parc des Princes this summer. Football icon Desailly somewhat surprisingly believes Arsenal forward Kai Havertz should be PSG's No. 1 transfer target, citing his versatility as the main reason he would be of use to Enrique. Signed from Chelsea for £65m in 2023, Havertz has endured a mixed spell at the Emirates Stadium but was badly missed last season as Mikel Arteta had to deal with an injury crisis. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Havertz's status as Arsenal's first-choice striker looks set to end this summer as Arteta targets a new No. 9 with Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres heavily linked with moves to north London. Desailly believes Havertz would be the 'best transfer option' for PSG and has also urged the Champions League holders to rescue Darwin Nunez from Liverpool. The Uruguayan is expected to move on this summer following a largely underwhelming spell at Anfield and Desailly reckons he can revive his career in Paris. Like Arsenal, Liverpool are also interested in signing a new striker to strengthen Arne Slot's Premier League champions and are open to offers for Nunez. 'There are two players I'd like to see at PSG and one is Kai Havertz from Arsenal,' France World Cup winner Desailly told Oddspedia. 'Havertz is the best option because he can play as a midfielder but also as a point of reference up front as a striker. 'For me Havertz would be the best signing for PSG and the other is Darwin Nunez from Liverpool. 'Nunez is a point of reference and has great movement, he has been unlucky in front of goal but I think he'd do well in a back-up role for PSG. 'Those are the two players I'd like to see join PSG this summer.' While PSG look to strengthen Enrique's squad, a number of players have been linked with moves away from the French capital. More Trending Manchester United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Portugal striker Goncalo Ramos while Gianluigi Donnarumma has also emerged as a target for the Red Devils. PSG beat United to the signing of Ramos two years ago but the 23-year-old has struggled for starts since arriving from Benfica. Donnarumma, meanwhile, has entered the final 12 months of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain and is believed to be interested in a move to the Premier League. The 26-year-old Italian reminded fans why he is rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the world during PSG's brilliant Champions League run. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Frustrated Liverpool star fires warning to Arne Slot over his future MORE: Viktor Gyokeres headache for Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal as new rivals enter race MORE: Iconic Premier League referee Uriah Rennie dies aged 65

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store