NI boss O'Neill urges patient approach as he looks to protect youngsters

Michael O'Neill says Northern Ireland need to patiently build for the future instead of throwing youngsters straight into the fire pit of international football.

It has left O'Neill facing the prospect of fielding an even younger side for Sunday afternoon's game against Kazakhstan, whose manager even admitted he had some sympathy for his managerial counterpart.Qualification for the 2026 World Cup does not start until March 2025, by which time players like Steven Davis, 38, Jonny Evans, 35, and Cathcart, 34, could have big decisions to make on their future.

He added: “I don’t think we’re in a position to just draw a line and say we’re going to go this way. I think we would be far too young and far too inexperienced.”He said through a translator: “Our opponent has difficulties with regards to the injured players and I wanted to give a vote of support to the head coach.

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