The Northern Ireland senior men’s first international break of 2024 is a somewhat low-key double-header, with a couple of away friendlies firstly in Romania and then Scotland ahead of the start of the Nations League in September.
They tackle the Romanians at the Arena Nationala in Bucharest on Friday, March 22 before heading to Hampden Park the following Tuesday, March 26, to take on Steve Clarke’s Scots.
After the much-needed wave of optimism provided by a pleasant 2-0 victory over Denmark back in November that marked a redeeming end to an otherwise horror Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, it’s two clashes that at least give the squad a chance to show that was no flash in the pan.
Make no mistake – improvements are needed and fast, notably given that triumph over the Danes was the only one against a side not named San Marino in the 10 Group H outings.
But boss Michael O’Neill at least has a springboard to launch from, and a first-time call-up at senior level for Stevenage’s Jamie Reid wasn’t a wholly unexpected decision; a sharp-shooter with 21 goals in 44 appearances for the promotion-chasing League One outfit, the Torquay-born ace was a name on the Green and White Army’s lips.
Besides the 29-year-old’s inclusion, there is continuity upheld, and the likes of Portsmouth’s Paddy Lane, Ross McCausland of Rangers and St Mirren’s Caolan Boyd-Munce have all been retained after debuting or refiguring in the first-team fold. The popular Preston North End man Ali McCann is also back after injury denied him a spot in the last block.
A left-field shout who didn’t make the cut, however, is Chris Conn-Clarke.
Playing for Altrincham in the National League, where former Northern Ireland cult hero Will Grigg’s exploits are also worthy of acclaim – he’s scored 25 times for a Chesterfield side who are running away with the title – Belfast star Conn-Clarke has proved a talismanic influence as arguably the top-performing midfielder in the division.
The four-times-capped NI Under-21 international’s numbers this campaign make for quite some reading. Often deployed as a No.10 or even up top on occasion in Phil Parkinson’s system, he’s scored 20, behind just Grigg and Eastleigh’s Paul McCallum (30 goals), and only Grigg’s Spireites team-mate Liam Mandeville (14) betters his 11 assists in the English fifth-tier.
For a player who wasn’t even a guaranteed starter while on loan with Waterford a year ago in the League of Ireland First Division, the Glentoran Academy graduate, who is still just 22, has less broken through a glass ceiling and more brought the whole roof down in 2023/24.
Debuting for the Glens in 2018 before linking up with Burnley’s youth set-up and then Fleetwood Town, with a loan at Chorley also sprinkled in, he’s since had a rise to prominence that, if not an overnight job, has brought him to the forefront – and his displays this term have been hard to ignore.
Now, it isn’t the EFL, and it was the case with Paul Smyth, for example, where O’Neill wanted to see him produce on a higher stage despite the former Linfield prodigy’s routine excellence with League Two’s Leyton Orient.
But Conn-Clarke must be on the national team supremo’s radar – and should be continue to shine for the Greater Manchester club and earn a move up the ranks, then his name will merely intensify in the discussion for who Northern Ireland’s next breakout star could be.
This break’s come a little too early for the Robins ace, but September is likely to be a different story.
Featured image from Jonathan Moore Photography.
- 2024 may not be Linfield’s year, but precocious Braiden Graham is a huge success story
Linfield’s record haul of Irish League titles will remain at 56. Larne’s burgeoning total of Gibson Cups bloats from one to two. The Blues simply had to win on Monday night to take the title fight down to the dying embers, but a powerful Andy Ryan penalty on 35 minutes in response to Kirk Millar’s… Read more: 2024 may not be Linfield’s year, but precocious Braiden Graham is a huge success story - Game-changing Andy Ryan’s exploits have taken champions-elect Larne to a new level
Anyone fancy Linfield winning 18-0 on Saturday? Well, it’s expected that Cliftonville, who will do battle with the Blues in the Irish Cup Final on May 4, will field a weakened team on the Sports Direct Premiership’s last matchday, but you’d say the odds are impossibly long of such a feat occurring regardless. 18 is… Read more: Game-changing Andy Ryan’s exploits have taken champions-elect Larne to a new level - Premiership title picture changed beyond recognition in 120 seconds… but twists not over yet
Have you caught your breath yet? Small moments can make the biggest differences. One goal or, in this case, two just seconds apart across two sides of the same city can change the entire complexion. Deep, deep into added-time, Linfield were shooting above Larne to the Sports Direct Premiership summit by a point as they… Read more: Premiership title picture changed beyond recognition in 120 seconds… but twists not over yet - Championship hitting new heights for quality and entertainment… that must be celebrated
The Championship is the ultimate in ‘any team can beat any team’, they say. A hive of chaos where you can quickly find yourself a bit red-faced when you look at your accumulator and notice that nothing has gone to plan. Well, in this league, there is no plan. There is no script nor playbook.… Read more: Championship hitting new heights for quality and entertainment… that must be celebrated - Rediscovering home comforts will inspire quality Northern Ireland squad to Euros return
It wasn’t perfect, but Northern Ireland Women importantly kickstarted their quest to return to the European Championships Finals on the front foot. Despite a disappointing goalless draw with Malta on Friday night at Windsor Park when Simone Magill’s hotly disputed disallowed finish was a major talking point, the subsequent 3-1 victory in Bosnia and Herzegovina… Read more: Rediscovering home comforts will inspire quality Northern Ireland squad to Euros return
Football Chatters 
Leave a comment