Conor Bradley will return to Northern Ireland action against Slovakia on Friday night
Conor Bradley will return to Northern Ireland action against Slovakia on Friday night
Michael O’Neill believes that Liverpool star Conor Bradley has already reached ‘iconic sportsperson’ status in Northern Ireland, insisting that it hasn’t changed him at all.
Ahead of tonight’s crucial World Cup qualifier in Slovakia, O’Neill waxed lyrical about the 22-year-old from Tyrone who last season became a Premier League winner with the Anfield giants and this season has become his club’s first choice right back.
Michael O'Neill has hailed Conor Bradley's mentality
Michael O'Neill has hailed Conor Bradley's mentality
That has placed Bradley in a global spotlight and made him one of his country’s most high-profile sporting figures.
O’Neill said: “I think the one thing about any young player who comes up and obviously plays for a club like Liverpool is that they don’t change.
“That’s the biggest compliment I could give Conor since I’ve known him from when he played in our Under-16s, watched his progress, watched him play on loan at Bolton and what he has to do now to play at a club like Liverpool.
“We don’t have many players that come through and play at that level.
“We had Jonny (Evans) at Manchester United and had Steven (Davis) at that level. We don’t have it as often now, which is the nature of the Premier League.
“So I think that’s always going to make him an iconic player and an iconic sportsperson in Northern Ireland. The most important thing is how he handles the whole thing and he hasn’t changed.
“I see the boys in the hotel and he gets as much stick off the other lads as any. He’s very much one of the lads.
“He has leadership qualities and the most important thing is how he plays at the end of the day which is on the front foot leading by example. That’s a huge asset to have as an individual player.”