Jamie Donley is hoping to enjoy a profitable spell on loan at Stoke City from Tottenham Hotspur
Jamie Donley is keen to boost his haul of caps with the Northern Ireland senior side
Jamie Donley is keen to boost his haul of caps with the Northern Ireland senior side
Jamie Donley is keen to continue impressing for Northern Ireland having switched allegiance in 2025
Jamie Donley is keen to continue impressing for Northern Ireland having switched allegiance in 2025
Jamie Donley says Northern Ireland's young players are ready to rise to demands on the international stage
Jamie Donley says Northern Ireland's young players are ready to rise to demands on the international stage
Northern Ireland international Jamie Donley is highly rated by Tottenham Hotspur
Northern Ireland international Jamie Donley is highly rated by Tottenham Hotspur
Jamie Donley is hoping to enjoy a profitable spell on loan at Stoke City from Tottenham Hotspur
Jamie Donley is hoping to enjoy a profitable spell on loan at Stoke City from Tottenham Hotspur
Jamie Donley is keen to boost his haul of caps with the Northern Ireland senior side
thumbnail: Jamie Donley is keen to boost his haul of caps with the Northern Ireland senior side
Graham Luney
thumbnail: Jamie Donley is keen to continue impressing for Northern Ireland having switched allegiance in 2025
thumbnail: Jamie Donley is keen to continue impressing for Northern Ireland having switched allegiance in 2025
thumbnail: Jamie Donley says Northern Ireland's young players are ready to rise to demands on the international stage
thumbnail: Jamie Donley says Northern Ireland's young players are ready to rise to demands on the international stage
thumbnail: Northern Ireland international Jamie Donley is highly rated by Tottenham Hotspur
thumbnail: Northern Ireland international Jamie Donley is highly rated by Tottenham Hotspur
Northern Ireland ace Jamie Donley believes Michael O’Neill’s young guns are ready to come of age.
As several seasoned performers left the stage, O’Neill has overseen the development of the next generation.
Emerging talent such as Conor Bradley, Isaac Price, Pierce Charles, Shea Charles and Trai Hume are offering glimpses into an exciting future.
Former Northern Ireland midfielder O’Neill will be encouraged by the number of young players moving to England and Scotland along with his senior stars enjoying more game-time, some of whom have benefited from summer switches.
After a period of friendly fire, it is judgment time in the World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany.
There is optimism and belief in the Northern Ireland camp but also some concern at the long injury list which has ruled out Pierce Charles, Conor Hazard, Ciaron Brown, Daniel Ballard, Brodie Spencer, Jordan Thompson, Paul Smyth and Conor McMenamin.
Ahead of the opener against the lowest-ranked team in Group A, Donley feels the group can achieve something special.
“It's a very enjoyable group of lads. I think the staff give us freedom and allow us to be professionals and enjoy ourselves in the right way,” said the 20-year-old.
“It still gives me that excitement of coming away to play for your country. Obviously, with it being the World Cup qualifiers, it makes it even more special.
“It's definitely a young group. I know I haven't been here long, but I can see the quality within the group.
“Being young players, that comes with the legs and the running with high intensity and all the things that come with that.
“We're a young group, but I think everyone's ready for the challenge and everyone believes that we can take on the challenge.”
Jamie Donley says Northern Ireland's young players are ready to rise to demands on the international stage
Jamie Donley says Northern Ireland's young players are ready to rise to demands on the international stage
Donley joined Championship club Stoke City on loan in August.
The Tottenham Hotspur forward enjoyed an impressive loan stint in League One with Leyton Orient in the 2024/25 term, making 52 appearances, scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists as the Os made the Play-Off Final.
Donley switched allegiances from England to Northern Ireland earlier in 2025 after winning caps at Under-17 and Under-19 level for the Three Lions.
He made his senior debut for O’Neill’s men against Switzerland in March and has since won two more caps.
“I’ve played in friendlies but there is an edge to the competitive qualifiers. It's only really about getting points on the board,” he said.
“In the friendlies, it's more about our style of play and how Michael wants us to play, but now it's mainly about getting results and trying to qualify.
“I think whoever's asked to come in for the injured players will be ready because Michael speaks a lot about everyone staying united with everything that we do and listening to all the roles he puts on us.
“Every position has got a different role, so I think anyone who comes in will be ready to go.
“Whether I'm on the bench or not, I'll be ready to play my part in whatever role that may be.”
Jamie Donley is keen to continue impressing for Northern Ireland having switched allegiance in 2025
Jamie Donley is keen to continue impressing for Northern Ireland having switched allegiance in 2025
After the Luxembourg test, Northern Ireland travel to Cologne to take on Germany in their second Group A game on Sunday.
The men in green threw away a two-goal lead to draw in November's Nations League meeting.
“It's obviously tough playing away in the first two games,” continued Donley. “I think Luxembourg gives us a great opportunity to put our stamp on the group and show everyone what we can do.
“Our aim is to get the three points and go into Germany with that first win and see what we can get out of that game.
“They've had a new manager, so I'm not really sure how they're going to play, but I think they try to play good football.
“I think they've got good support but we'll try to focus on ourselves. We've got a good group. We've had a couple of days training and I think the boys are feeling confident.”
Northern Ireland international Jamie Donley is highly rated by Tottenham Hotspur
Northern Ireland international Jamie Donley is highly rated by Tottenham Hotspur
Donley joined Spurs at the age of eight. He signed his first professional contract with the Premier League side in January 2022 and made his senior debut for Tottenham in December 2023.
He featured twice for Spurs during their pre-season fixtures in the summer of 2025 and travelled with Thomas Frank’s side to South Korea before completing his loan to Stoke upon his return.
“I was away on pre-season with Tottenham and I had a few managers call me, and I think (Stoke manager) Mark Robins gave me a call and he spoke about the way they play and how they tried to play good football, and even out of possession they play with high intensity and high pressure,” he added.
“I think that definitely suited my game. We've had a really good start to the season, so it's nice to hear that approach.
“Obviously, he (Frank) came in as a new manager and he said in his first meetings, it's kind of a fresh start for everyone and everyone's got a chance to impress him.
“He did speak to me while I was away and he just said he thinks I'm a top player and I've got a top mentality.
“He just thinks I need to get out and play some minutes, which if he thinks that's the right thing to do, then I understand that and that's what I'm hopefully going out to do. I can come back next season and try and impress him again.”
Jamie Donley is hoping to enjoy a profitable spell on loan at Stoke City from Tottenham Hotspur
Jamie Donley is hoping to enjoy a profitable spell on loan at Stoke City from Tottenham Hotspur
Although several Championship sides were keen on Donley’s signature, Stoke got the deal over the line.
“I think I was ready for the challenge after the season that I had. I know it's only been a few games, but you can definitely see the level of intensity, the high quality of players,” he said.
“I know I haven't played as much as I'd like to, but we've done really well. We've won three out of three, so I know I wasn't going to be starting the game.
“Even coming off the bench, I can feel and see the different levels of the League. Hopefully, when I get my chance, I can do it on that stage.
“As for my targets, I think it was similar to last year – to play as many games as I can. That's why you go out on loan to play men's football.
“I think I had a good return in goals and assists last season, but I don't really put targets on that.
“I just try to get myself in the right positions and, hopefully, goals and assists can follow.
“Everyone can improve and I’m no different. I don't think any part of my game is perfect, so I try and work on all aspects of my game. Whatever that may be, I try to do it to the best of my ability.”
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