'He's terrific' - National team manager simply blown away by Liverpool youngster's 9/10 performance

Northern Ireland manager Martin O’Neill hailed Conor Bradley’s performance following their victory over Luxembourg.

The Liverpool youngster continued his growing importance for the Green and White Army in the 2-0 Nations League triumph at Windsor Park. Bradley was Northern Ireland’s standout performer despite only coming off the bench in the opening three games of the Reds’ 2024-25 season.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Anfield in 2023-24 as he made 23 appearances - scoring one goal and recording six appearances. And while Bradley finds himself behind Trent Alexander-Arnold in the pecking order at Liverpool, O’Neill is confident that the former Dungannon Swifts youngster will go to the very top.

"Conor can play anywhere on the right-hand side of the pitch with ease. He has the athleticism and quality as well," O'Neill said "We saw that with him tonight, he always looks capable of getting in behind. He will be much more than a right back for us.

“He’s just turned 21, he’s a terrific player, and the attributes are there for everyone to see,” O’Neill said. “Conor will go to a very, very high level in the game. It’s game time that he needs and he’s at a club where that’s not easy to get.

“But when he comes here he embraces it and embraces the chance to play. He had a little bit of cramp near the end tonight which is alien to Conor. He has that natural athleticism."

The Northern Irish media were equally as impressed with Bradley’s performance. The Belfast Telegraph gave him a 9/10 player rating and commented: “Playing in a more offensive right-sided role, the Liverpool star was at the heart of everything Northern Ireland attempted going forward. Drove the team on and led by example. Could have added a third goal during a 65th-minute breakaway.”