Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland will take a structured approach against Slovenia at Windsor
Michael O'Neill's side conceded four goals the last time they faced Slovenia
Daniel Ballard could miss out through injury
Michael O’Neill fully expects to see a more structured Northern Ireland performance against Slovenia at Windsor Park than first time around in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Just last month, the team left Ljubljana with a chastening 4-2 defeat which ended any lingering hopes Northern Ireland had of qualifying for next year’s finals.
By contrast, it spurred the Slovenians on to win their next two games, scoring seven goals in the process to move to the top of Group H.
They will arrive in Belfast buzzing with confidence.
O’Neill has had to cope with injuries to influential players throughout this campaign and he may have to deal with another one if Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard does not recover from a thigh problem in time to face the Slovenians.
Linfield’s Daniel Finlayson, currently suspended for five games, was drafted in for a training session on the eve of Tuesday night’s game to help with team shape.
Should Ballard miss out, with Paddy McNair suspended, O’Neill talked about Bolton’s Eoin Toal potentially partnering Jonny Evans or moving Shea Charles from midfield into defence to plug the gap.
What the manager confirmed for sure was that Bailey Peacock-Farrell will return in goal after Conor Hazard kept a clean sheet in Saturday’s 3-0 win over San Marino.
Daniel Ballard could miss out through injury
That was a stroll in the Windsor Park. Slovenia will be nothing of the sort and O’Neill knows what the team must do to compete.
“We have been showing the lads we needed to be better out of possession in the first Slovenia game,” he said.
“It was important we addressed that. We brought it right to the
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