Jamie Donley: Stephen Craigan ‘excited’ for the imminent change of Northern Youngster

Craigan does not believe that Donley has needed a lot to persuade to change loyalty to a northern Ireland team that assured the promotion of the Nations League in the fall.

“When the team is winning games and getting a little positive advertising and there is impulse, it probably does not have to do much convincing,” he said.

“Anyone with whom you talk, talks about vitality in the group and union. And when you gather so many young players, there is an emotion and want to grow together.”

With Ronan Hale also willing to his first participation with the North Ireland senior team after changing the loyalty of the Republic of Ireland, Craigan believes that there is a factor of feeling good around the O’Neill team at this time.

“When you see them training and you look at them and look them out of the field, you feel that there is something that is built, something that is brewing,” he added.

“If you are a young player, you think ‘I would not mind being part of that group’ and I think that is why Ronan Hale and Jamie Donley have entered.”

While the games during the next week are friendly, Craigan believes that O’Neill and his players can learn a “great” amount of them.

“We have been in the League of Nations C. We have played, we have won our group, but you want to try yourself against better sides. This is how you learn as a player and as a group and that’s how Michael will learn as manager. He will take a lot of these two games.”