Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill insists Conor Bradley is “in great hands” at Liverpool as he continues “progressing well” in his recovery from a serious injury.
Bradley hasn’t featured since being stretchered off with a knee issue in January’s Premier League clash against Arsenal and Reds boss Andoni Iraola revealed this week “he is not close to training with the team”.
The 23-year-old’s absence is a major blow for Northern Ireland with Bradley missing March’s World Cup play-off semi-final defeat to Italy and is also now set to sit out of their entire Nations League campaign.
"I think that's for Liverpool to comment on,” said O’Neill when asked about Bradley. “Whatever Andoni said is 100% true, they’ve him every day.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill. (Photo by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press)placeholder image
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill. (Photo by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press)
"I'm in touch with Conor, he's progressing well, but we didn't expect him to be fit for this window.
"He's in great hands at Liverpool and we know that he's progressing well.”
O’Neill named his 28-player squad for Northern Ireland’s first four Nations League matches – which will be played between September 25 and October 5 – on Tuesday.
In a major change, an extended international window will include four matches rather than the traditional two – and O’Neill feels that brings more challenges to a country of Northern Ireland's size.
"I think for a smaller association, it poses more challenges, if I'm honest,” added O’Neill. “If a player picks up a calf strain the Saturday before we meet up, he's going to miss four games where previously he might have missed two.
"I think it's a window that I believe is more beneficial for the bigger nations.
"I think you need the 28 players. It's a young squad – nine of the players could be part of Tommy Wright's U21 squad.
"We're in Nations League B, we know that if we can finish in a top-two position it will benefit us come the draw for Euro 2028.
"These are competitive games, we won't just give players minutes.
"It's not like where we were in June, where we were obviously giving players opportunities.
"I think the most important thing is you will need that level of number of players to get through.
"We don't have too many players outside that group of players to choose from.
"We have one or two injuries. Obviously, Conor, Ali McCann unfortunately has picked up a bad hamstring injury. Jamal Lewis is still injured and without a club at this minute in time.
"There are situations around some players that we could still have a little bit more depth. I think the most important thing is to keep the players involved. It's a big window. We don't know what that will look like.
"Sixteen days is a long time for a group of players. I'm sure within that period, players will get injured, two bookings and I think you're obviously suspended as well.
"It will be challenging. It's the way the window will be going forward.
"I think it's good that we have the experience of doing this in a Nations League campaign as opposed to the first time we do it in a European or a World Cup qualifying campaign.”