Northern Ireland fans meet German supporters with chants of 'we're going to win the group' on march to Windsor Park
Ciaron Brown has celebrated the “unbelievable” club progress to Premier League level enjoyed within the Northern Ireland panel – but cites a collective confidence as central to international growth.
With Liverpool’s Conor Bradley, the Sunderland pair of Dan Ballard and Trai Hume, plus Crystal Palace’s Justin Devenny, Michael O’Neill can turn to a quartet of players operating at the highest level of club football.
However, the majority of the players available for selection by O’Neill perform bread-and-butter domestic duties beyond the global spotlight on the game’s top table.
Bradley headed into the current World Cup qualifying camp having attracted widespread praise for his defensive strength against Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior across the Champions League and Sunderland’s Ballard grabbed a goal in the lauded draw with high-flying Arsenal.
Northern Ireland’s Ciaron Brown has praised the collective growth of the international squad. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)placeholder image
Northern Ireland’s Ciaron Brown has praised the collective growth of the international squad. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)
But Brown, on the books at Championship-based Oxford United, views shared experiences across the international stage in recent years still at the heart of Northern Ireland’s exciting climb together.
"I think we've got a lot of very good players that are obviously growing in their career and getting better every time we meet up,” said Brown. “I think Dan and Trai have been doing obviously unbelievable for their club...but also unbelievable for Northern Ireland.
"I think there's a lot of confidence when we look around the changing room and see the type of players we have all throughout the squad.
"I think everyone knows that Conor’s a key player for us and we do need him and the talent he's got is obviously top.
"He's got unbelievable attributes and everyone can see it.
"When he's on the pitch, he adds something different for us.
"All over, we've been with each other for the last couple of years and got to know each other quite well and we all get along.
"I think off the pitch, we get along so well.
"When we get on the pitch, we have confidence within each other."
A bond built over the drive for Northern Ireland goals stands key.
"I think every player in the squad understands what the gaffer wants from us,” said Brown. “Whether you're in the starting team or not, everybody works on the formation, the tactics.
"Two years ago, for a lot of the squad, we were very young and maybe inexperienced at that time in terms of international football and maybe club football.
"But over the two years, player-wise I think there's a lot more experience in the team and we're growing into great football players.
"I think the two years have probably done this squad a world of good, sticking together, kind of growing with each other, making sure we get the information on board and kind of all understanding what direction we're going in and how we want to do it.
"I think we have a good mixture in the squad...a few young ones coming through who probably don't fear much and older ones that can kind of show them things, help them during games.”