Latest news with #DanielBallard
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'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 Iceland. Reaching 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 career. Advertisement It's 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 game. On 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 own. Advertisement Taking 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 same. You 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 clubs. It's great for belief, and having more players at the top level can only benefit the national team as a whole. 'Playing for Northern Ireland gave me the belief I belonged in the Premier League' [Getty Images] 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. Advertisement 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 well. You 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 are. Advertisement But it is where Michael O'Neill wants his team to be, and it was another good learning experience for his young squad. Defensively, 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 Michael. In 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 happen. Advertisement Iceland 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 are. The 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 mistakes. Advertisement There 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 Gray. Watch 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.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- 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.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trai Hume wants Northern Ireland's young guns to set standard for squad
Trai Hume expects Northern Ireland to feed off the success that has been enjoyed by several of their young stars over the past few weeks. Hume and his Sunderland team-mate Daniel Ballard have been celebrating earning promotion to the Premier League after a dramatic play-off campaign that ended with victory over Sheffield United at Wembley. And that came at the end of a month in which Conor Bradley received his first Premier League winner's medal with Liverpool and fellow 21-year-old Justin Devenny lifted the FA Cup with Crystal Palace. Ballard, 25, and Hume, 23, will double the Premier League contingent in Michael O'Neill's squad, something that Hume believes can only help as they look ahead to their World Cup qualifying campaign that starts in September. 'I don't think there's any doubt,' Hume said. 'You're exposing yourself to the best league in the world, so you want to try your best to do well there and if you can, you're going to become a better player because of it. 'Obviously me and Dan are still young, Conor and Justin are still young, so hopefully we can have a lot of years in the Premier League and that will only benefit Northern Ireland going forward. 'I have no doubt there's other players in the squad that will get themselves into the Premier League as well. Obviously it's us four at the minute and hopefully we can try and push the lads and bring them up to the standard that we're going to set.' Northern Ireland are preparing for Saturday's friendly away to Denmark and Tuesday's match at home against Iceland, but their eyes are already on September when they begin their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away double-header against Luxembourg and Germany, with Slovakia also in Group A. Playing in high-pressure games like the Championship play-off final is valuable experience ahead of facing the likes of Germany, and Hume said: 'I think it will help us deal with the atmosphere a bit better. Obviously, the calibre of players will be a lot different. I think we will try our best to deal with that. 'I think the big games you do play in, you get used to the emotion of it and the challenge of playing in front of the crowd and not getting caught up in the emotion of the game. 'Germany is definitely going to be a lot different than Sheffield United. Like I say, we will just have to try our best to be ready and be focused for it.' Germany are obvious favourites to top the group, with Northern Ireland vying to beat Slovakia and Luxembourg to second place and the play-off spot that would bring. Ballard said they would treat their games against those two nations as cup finals. 'I think we can make a really positive start to the group,' he said. 'I think the games against Luxembourg and Slovakia are going to be really important for us. I think they will all be like cup finals. 'I feel like we have a real opportunity this year to go and put ourselves in a strong spot to qualify.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Two paths, one dream - how duo reached Premier League
International Friendly: Denmark v Northern IrelandVenue: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen Date: Saturday, 7 June Kick-off: 18:00 BSTCoverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI, listen on BBC Sounds and follow live text commentary & in-play clips on the BBC Sport website After years of hard work, Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume are set to become Premier League players in August. The Northern Ireland team-mates played a key role as Sunderland ended their six-year hiatus from the top flight with a dramatic Championship play-off win at Wembley. Playing in the Premier League is a life-long goal for both players, but both arrived at their current point through very different means. Defender Ballard came through the 'traditional' path, by working his way through Arsenal's academy. He didn't make a senior appearance for the Gunners but a number of loan spells brought him to the attention of Sunderland in 2022. Hume's path, on the other hand, meant he had to bide his time for a chance. When ambitions to move to England failed to come to fruition at the age of 16, he played in the Irish League in Northern Ireland with Linfield and Ballymena United, where the exposure to senior football at a young age certainly helped develop the combative player Sunderland fans have come to love. If supporters didn't know his name when he arrived for in January 2022, they certainly do now. "My journey is probably a lot different to a lot of people," admitted Hume. "I missed out on going across the water at 16 years of age. I didn't get picked by a lot of clubs and was told I wasn't ready, and things like that."Hume said he "worked my socks off" to earn a move to England, and he's been on Sunderland's journey from League One to the Premier League."I like to think I deserve the opportunity that I've got," he added."When I first moved to Sunderland they gave me time to adapt and get ready, and when I was ready to play I had my chance and thankfully took it. Now I am where I am, and I want to keep on pushing."Ballard said "it's down to the individual a lot of the time" after he joined the academy at Arsenal as an eight-year-old."At Arsenal, from the outside it's probably the perfect way to be brought up," he added."But then a lot of players get lost in that system and Trai is a great example of coming through at a club that didn't have the same facilities, but it just shows that it comes down to the individual. "You have to put the work in yourself. No amount of facilities of coaches at that young age are going to turn you into a good player." Hume 'loves the club' and 'happy where I'm at' After impressing throughout Sunderland's campaign, Hume has been linked with a move away from the Stadium of Light, with Wolves, Everton and a number of European clubs reportedly looking at the 23-year-old. However, Hume is happy at Sunderland and if anything happens "it's from the club"."I've said it ever since I moved to Sunderland, I really love my football here," he admitted."I love playing. I love the club, I'm happy where I'm at and if anything happens it's from the club. "I love playing for Sunderland so I'm happy being there."That connection with the club and its supporters would only have been enhanced on a fairytale promotion run. Ballard scored a last-gasp header in the second leg of the semi-final against Coventry, which was the winning goal on aggregate and booked Sunderland's place at Wembley. The celebrations could only be described as pandemonium as Ballard whipped off his shirt before being mobbed by his team-mates. "I think it was spur of the moment thing," he said with a smile. "As I kid I had dreamed of that celebration, but you can never really do it as a centre-back otherwise you'll get a booking. I think that was the one opportunity I could get as the game was done."You could feel it in the stadium as they were two really tough games against Coventry. I think it was relief more than anything and it was quite emotional to see the way the fans reacted."There was more joy to come as substitute Tom Watson scored an injury-time winner against Sheffield United as the Black Cats gained promotion in the most dramatic of circumstances. Ballard said that made his semi-final goal "even more special", and Hume added the drama made "it more emotional and more sweet"."We didn't dominate both games, we had to dig in and we had to stay strong as a team and stick together," added Hume."Personally, that's the way I like to win games. I like to do it together as a team and you have to work hard to earn that. "We worked as hard as we could, and to get those two late goals there was relief, joy and all the emotions you can think of really."
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Sunderland duo on why achieving Premier League dream can help Northern Ireland hit the heights
Sunderland duo Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard say they are bursting with pride and excitement after securing promotion to the Premier League. The Black Cats heroes have doubled Northern Ireland's representation in England's elite league and now the top flight new boys are banking on their higher status to inject greater strength into Michael O'Neill's young side.
