Michael O'Neill believes exposure to high-calibre opposition will benefit Northern Ireland ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. Switzerland and Sweden lie in wait for O'Neill's squad this international window, two sides brimming with Premier League stars and attacking talent.
Included in the Swedish panel is Newcastle United star Alexander Isak who scored in Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, and Anthony Elanga who bagged a brace for Nottingham Forest in their Premier League win over Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Add in Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon) and it could prove a tough evening for O'Neill's players at the Strawberry Arena next Tuesday.
It remains to be seen how much they will feature for Sweden, but O'Neill believes his side's upcoming games will be vital preparation for Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifiers which will include either Germany or Italy.
O'Neill said: “Sweden will have a game prior to us and I’m sure Jon Dahl Tomasson will be mindful of the players’ commitments. But the only way to get that experience is to play against it.
"For most of our players to play against a Premier League striker it has to be in a cup competition. I saw Daniel [Ballard] and Trai [Hume] have to deal with Joelinton and Isak when they [Sunderland] played against Newcastle in the Cup. It was a tough day for them, you could see they’re not used to playing against that level of player.
“We will have to play against either Italy or Germany where they will be exposed to top, top players, so it’s important we give them that opportunity.
“The return of Paddy (McNair) will be an interesting one for me because we missed him in the Nations League due to his injury. I thought he was very, very good for us last March in the games against Scotland and Romania when he played in the middle of a back three.
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“He’s three games into the season in a new adventure for him in his career in America. It’s been a very good start for him, he’s had two wins and a draw, and I know he’s enjoying life out there.
"Hopefully we see a little from that – the Championship can be a bit of a grind for players, especially when you bring them to the international squad in March – Paddy won’t have that excuse on this occasion!"
Meanwhile, O'Neill doesn't believe the absence of several players from his own squad will prove detrimental as he plans for the future. Regulars including Conor Bradley, Dan Ballard and Ali McCann are all injured, while veteran striker Josh Magennis is currently on a standby list.
"We’ve got three players not fit – Dan Ballard, Ali McCann, and Conor Bradley – who, let’s be honest would probably all be starting players in a competitive 11 that we’d be picking at this minute, based on how they’re playing for their club and the level they’re playing at as well," O'Neill said.
“I just felt it was right to look at the likes of Ross McCausland, who unfortunately when we’ve had him in in the past has withdrawn with injury. He’s not had as good a season as he could have had at Rangers, by his own admission.
“Justin Devenny has obviously come through from the 21s, and is around the match day squad at Palace all the time. Ethan Galbraith has played very well for us.
“It’s just the balance. I don’t look at the players I’ve left out and think very many of them could say, ‘I should really be in that squad’. The likes of Jamie Reid and Caolan Boyd-Munce, by their own admission, their season hasn’t been as strong as their previous season.
“When you’re picking players who are trying to establish themselves in the squad, you are very much looking at their current club situation as well."
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