Michael O’Neill: I think the fans know that it was always going to be a really tough challenge to qualify with this group of players
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill
Northern Ireland were on the wrong end of yet another 1-0 scoreline on Tuesday night in defeat to Slovenia, but despite more frustration, Michael O'Neill believes he is building a young side who will soon be able to compete despite where they play their club football.
Adam Cerin's free-kick from a debatable early decision was enough to give Slovenia three points that puts them on the brink of reaching Euro 2024, but another inexperienced Northern Ireland side did a good job of stifling their potent attacking force even after Shea Charles' 58th-minute red card.
It was a familiar story in this campaign, with this Northern Ireland's fifth 1-0 defeat in eight games – a sign that a side robbed of so many key experienced players has managed to stay in games until the end if not come out on the right side of them.
There have been growing pains, and plenty of them, for a team short not only on international experience but club experience in many cases, but the hope for former Shamrock Rovers manager O'Neill is that it pays off in the campaigns to come.
"I think there is potentially a good team here going forward, but it will take time and we need to be patient with the players," the manager said.
"Can the players who are playing League One at the minute, can they get to Championship? I don't think going forward we are going to have a team that is riddled with Premier League players, but it doesn't mean that we can't build a team that can compete."
Northern Ireland lost captain Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans and Shane Ferguson to long-term injuries before qualifying even began and the problems have mounted up since.
With Daniel Ballard injured and Paddy McNair suspended on
Read on belfasttelegraph.co.uk
