Northern Ireland need to hit goal trail in order to save Euro hopes, admits Trai Hume
Trai Hume is hoping to earn his fifth cap against Slovenia
Rising star Trai Hume has admitted Northern Ireland need to find some quickfire attacking flair if they are going to fight their way back into Euro 2024 qualifying contention.
Michael O’Neill’s side are fifth in Group H and face Slovenia in Ljubljana on Thursday before travelling to Astana to take on Kazakhstan three days later.
Northern Ireland picked up three points in their opening game in San Marino — as expected — but have since lost 1-0 to Finland and Kazakhstan at home and Denmark away.
The squad has been missing a number of key injured players including Steven Davis and Stuart Dallas.
With so many experienced players sidelined throughout the qualifying campaign, O’Neill has had to throw youngsters in sooner than he may have liked.
Captain Davis, Leeds United’s Dallas, Shane Ferguson and Hume’s Sunderland team-mate Corry Evans are long-term injury victims while Conor Bradley, Jamal Lewis and Aaron Donnelly are also unavailable.
After attacking pair Shayne Lavery and Dale Taylor were forced to pull out on Friday, O’Neill called up winger Jordan Jones, full-back Brodie Spencer and centre-half Eoin Toal.
Six points behind Finland and Kazakhstan in first and second place, Northern Ireland have a mountain to climb in a group that was considered favourable when the draw was made.
Versatile defender Hume, who made his debut against Hungary last year, is hoping to win his fifth cap on Thursday.
The 21-year-old, a regular for Championship outfit Sunderland, accepts that his side need to find some inspiration in the final third to breathe life into their qualifying campaign.
“Ourselves and Finland have conceded the least goals in the group (three) so we have been
Read on belfasttelegraph.co.uk
