Michael O'Neill is excited to see what emerging youngster Terry Devlin can add to his squad this international window. The 21-year-old Portsmouth midfielder has received a first senior call-up for the friendlies against Switzerland and Sweden.
Devlin is the latest player to roll off Northern Ireland's Under 21 conveyor belt, another graduate of Tommy Wright's underage squad which also produced the likes of Justin Devenny, Callum Marshall and Brodie Spencer.
Former Glentoran youngster Devlin joined Portsmouth in 2023 and has become a firm fans' favourite at Pompey. And now he's hoping to translate that form to the international stage.
O'Neill said: "Terry is another player who has come out of Tommy Wright's Under 21 squad from last year. From that squad (Ruairi) McConville has come through, Devlin, Devenny, (Dale) Taylor, Marshall and Spencer could have been in that squad. There are quite a few there, with Aaron Donnelly another who has pushed through.
"That's why the Under 21 squad is there for us, to get players through to the senior team.
"Terry has been consistently around the Portsmouth squad and team. They predominantly see him as a right back, right sided player.
"With Ali McCann out as a midfield player, and Conor Bradley out as a right wing-back, the opportunity was there to bring Terry in. I recently saw he signed a new deal at Portsmouth and I think they are very pleased with the progress he's made in the 18 months he has been there."
O'Neill hopes the future is bright for all of Northern Ireland's youngsters coming through the ranks, but insists he has no "crystal ball" when trying to predict what lies ahead for them.
"I can't tell you that in three years' time Terry Devlin will be playing in the Premier League, or in League One. That's the nature of football," O'Neill said.
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"Lots of these lads have had different points and journeys. Players move, some go out on loan, some come through domestic football;.
"All I can do as a manager is try and give them the opportunity to play international football which will hopefully push them onto the next level in club football. I think within our group there are players with the potential to play in the Premier League.
"But at this minute in time they are on the start of that curve to get there. And there aren't that many Under 21 players playing in the Premier League on a weekly basis.
"If you look at, for example, England's squad recently where 18 of their players had played in the Football League at one stage. Whether on a loan basis or whatever.
"A lot of our players are on a similar journey at the minute."
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