Northern Ireland go into the final two Nations League matches without Ceadach O'Neill, but they still sit top of League B2 with 8 points from 4 matches. They are also the only side left in the competition who have yet to concede a goal this year, which is why Michael O'Neill can talk about a strong finish from a position of control rather than rescue.
Michael O'Neill's message
"We're naturally disappointed to be without Ceadach for the final two games of the campaign. He has been a great asset to the squad in the last international window and everyone here wishes him a swift recovery," Michael O'Neill told BBC in comments reported by the broadcaster.
He added: "The wider squad and staff are looking forward to the two games ahead. We're in a good position in the group and there is plenty to play for."
That is the key point here. The injury is a setback, but not one that changes the basic shape of the campaign. Ceadach O'Neill has only 2 appearances and 10 minutes for Northern Ireland this season, so this is a loss of momentum more than a loss of a central starter.
The final two fixtures
Northern Ireland host Ukraine at Windsor Park on Saturday, 14 November at 19:45 GMT before travelling to Budapest to play Hungary on Tuesday, 17 November. Michael O'Neill said the Ukraine game will be important before another challenging trip, and he wants the team to finish the campaign strongly.
The current platform is hard to argue with. Northern Ireland have 8 points from 4 matches, have not conceded in the group, and remain top with two games left. The job is not done, but they still control their own finish.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
