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Liam Donnelly has taken a step forward in more ways than one as he makes his long-awaited return to the Northern Ireland squad.<\/p>\nLiam Donnelly has taken a step forward in more ways than one as he makes his long-awaited return to the Northern Ireland squad.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old made his debut for the Green and White Army five years ago as a late substitute against Chile, but he has not had a second chance since, instead collecting 24 caps with the Under-21s.<\/p>\n
He has been close to making recent squads but Michael O\u2019Neill could hardly leave him out for this week\u2019s friendly with Luxembourg and the Euro 2020 qualifier against Germany after he opened the season with eight goals in eight games for Motherwell.<\/p>\n
Not bad for a man who has spent much of his career as a center-half, but he is certainly making the most of a move into midfield.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m starting to put a bit of pressure on myself now,\u201d he said with a laugh. \u201cIf I go a couple of games without now it\u2019ll be seen as a drought.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m buzzing. It\u2019s an added bonus, the goals. I\u2019m more focused on performance but it\u2019s nice to get a few so hopefully they keep coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donnelly\u2019s role at Motherwell remains primarily a defensive one, even if his goal-scoring record suggests otherwise, but Stephen Robinson\u2019s system allows for rotation in the midfield three and it is paying dividends.<\/p>\n
\u201cI try and creep forward and if I hear the shout I maybe stay back,\u201d he said. \u201cBut if I go forward usually someone slots into my place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donnelly moved to Motherwell in the summer of 2018 from Hartlepool, enticed in large part by the opportunity to work for former Northern Ireland midfielder Robinson.<\/p>\n
His first season was frustrated by a series of injuries, costing him the chance of a call-up from O\u2019Neill during the Nations League campaign last year, but things have fallen into place this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast season was a difficult one,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was frustrating with a few injuries, but the position sort of became vacant in the summer so I tried it out and it\u2019s working well so far.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donnelly is not the only young player looking to make an impression on O\u2019Neill this week and potentially earn a second international cap.<\/p>\n
Shayne Lavery was initially named in the Under-21s squad for this international window, but was moved up to the senior group after an injury to Paul Smyth.<\/p>\n
It comes as a reward for the 20-year-old\u2019s fine start to life at Linfield, where he has scored four goals in nine games, including a fine brace against Qarabag in the Europa League qualifiers.<\/p>\n
Lavery, released by Everton in the summer after four years in their youth set-up, is certainly making the most of the opportunity given to him by club boss David Healy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t see it as a step back at all,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just good to be back playing football again and showing people what I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lavery managed only a handful of appearances for Everton\u2019s Under-23s and also struggled for playing time on loan at Falkirk in the second half of last season.<\/p>\n
But though he could not crack it on the other side of the Irish Sea at the first attempt, Lavery is certain the experience made him a better player.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid Unsworth, John Ebbrell, it was great to be coached by them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re ex-Premier League players and I can take a lot of positives from it for the rest of my career.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the players I was training with at Everton, it made me a better player. I don\u2019t have any regrets about it at all.\u201d<\/p>\n