World Cup qualifying Uefa Group A, matchday 5: Slovakia v Northern Ireland (Kosice, 7.45pm Friday)
COMPARISON to Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard made him blush, but Conor Bradley has enough self-confidence to declare that he has “improved massively as a player in the last 12 months.”
Former Manchester United star Teddy Sheringham made that claim recently and Bradley does already have one more league title than the ex-Reds skipper.
Bradley’s season has been disrupted by injury
Bradley’s season has been disrupted by injury(Adam Davy/PA)
However, the Tyrone man insists that he still has much progress to make, saying with a smile:
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“Not a bad comparison. I’ll take that every day of the week.
“Whenever you play for a club like Liverpool there’s pressure and there’s eyes on you all the time. I’ve started to realise that over the last two years.
“You’ve just got to try and be as consistent as you can every time you go out there and play.
“Obviously, for Teddy to say that, being compared to Gerrard, I don’t know if I completely agree with him.
“Watching Gerrard when I was younger, he was unbelievable, but it’s obviously nice to hear from people who’ve played the game. It’s really nice to hear.”
Having turned 22 in July, Bradley’s aim this season is to establish himself as a Reds regular, which will involve even more self-improvement:
“I just think it’s about trying to get better and better and better, that’s really important.
“The last 12 months have been really good, obviously winning the Premier League with Liverpool. It’s something you can’t really describe in words how special that is.
“So, yeah, it’s been good the last 12 months, but just trying to kick on now and keep going.”
Northern Ireland will continue their World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Germany on Monday night
Northern Ireland's Trai Hume celebrates his goal against Slovakia in Belfast.(Liam McBurney/PA)
The Aghyaran lad was outstanding as Northern Ireland outplayed Slovakia in winning 2-0 in Belfast last month, and another all-action display will be required in Kosice if the visitors are to keep alive their hopes of claiming second spot in this group.
After an injury in pre-season, Conor has got a run of games for club and country, apart from missing the last match against Germany due to suspension.
Getting game-time and building up rhythm is key, he says: “It’s obviously really important.
“One of the most important things as a footballer is being available to play. I think that’s something, especially this season, that I’ve been much better with. Obviously, last season was really disappointing.
“I don’t think it was anything individually on me, but it was more just unlucky with them [injuries]. This season has been much better. I’ve been available a lot more.
“It’s something I need to keep doing. It’s just very hard work every day and making sure you’re at it and making sure you look after yourself because the Premier League is relentless and the Champions League and all the cup competitions.
“You’ve just got to look after yourself in the best way possible. Hopefully, I can stay injury-free for a lot longer.”
Northern Ireland’s approach in the reverse fixture was criticised by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann
Northern Ireland’s approach in the reverse fixture was criticised by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann(Liam McBurney/PA)
That Germany game is the only major match he has missed recently, after a harsh booking late on against the Slovaks:
“It was really disappointing. Obviously it was a massive game against Germany.
“To get the yellow card when I got it at the end of the game against Slovakia, when I didn’t really think I’d done much to deserve, it was really disappointing.
“It was really disappointing more than anything to not be there to help the boys out.”
Ever since he came onto the senior stage Bradley has been a hero for the Northern Ireland supporters, and he loves to hear their backing for him:
“I appreciate that so much. I’ll never take it for granted to have 10,000 people or whatever singing my name.
“I think it’s so, so special, and that gives you that little bit of extra you might need out on the pitch. It’s a special thing and something I’m really, really grateful for.”
Amidst all the praise, though, Bradley remains grounded – kept there by his boss and team-mates.
The ‘buzz’ among the Green and White Army when he gets on the ball does not get through to him, however, he says:
“I don’t know what you are talking about in that way because in the game I’m just so focused on what I’ve got to do to try and help the team win the game. I don’t hear any of that, I don’t see any of that.
“I just hear Trai [Hume] behind me shouting at me, probably most of the time, or maybe Michael shouting at me as well,” he added with a laugh.
The hope of reaching a World Cup remains alive, probably through the play-offs, despite the 1-0 loss to the Germans last time out, and that’s a prospect Bradley relishes:
“It would be special to get to a major tournament with my country, it’s something I dream of.
“It would be fantastic if we could get there but we know how tough it is. It hasn’t happened much in the past.
“We know how difficult it is but I’ve full belief in this group of players. We’ve a really good team and really good young players. Hopefully we can get there.”