O'Neill backs Donley for 'great future' after NI switch

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill believes Tottenham forward Jamie Donley has "a great international future" after being called up for the forthcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Sweden.

Donley's inclusion in the squad was confirmed on Tuesday after Fifa gave the go-ahead for him to switch allegiance from England, with all the necessary paperwork having been completed.

The 20-year-old, who previously played for Northern Ireland at youth level, has impressed during a loan stint at League One Leyton Orient.

"We're delighted to get Jamie. He was part of the England under-age set-up, although he was born here in Antrim in Northern Ireland and his dad is from Antrim," O'Neill told BBC Northern Ireland's Newsline programme.

"We had conversations over the last three or four months. They were very positive and he's a player that I believe has a great international future.

"He's very much in the mould of Isaac Price, Shea Charles, Trai Hume, Callum Marshall, players of that age who have already made their mark on the senior international stage. We're excited to have him."

Northern Ireland will be without Liverpool star Conor Bradley, plus fellow injury absentees Eoin Toal, Dan Ballard, Ali McCann and Dion Charles for the visit of the Swiss to Windsor Park on Friday night and the trip to face Sweden in Stockholm four days later.

"Conor's always a loss, he brings great energy to the team. He's already captained the team at a young age and our team will always be stronger with Conor available," reflected O'Neill.

"But it [the absence of injured players] gives an opportunity to younger players. We've got young Terry Devlin in the squad who has trained very well, Brodie Spencer in the squad who has trained very well and it'll be a young team that takes to the pitch on Friday night."

Northern Ireland impressed in topping Nations League Group C last year, including a thumping 5-0 home win over Bulgaria and 2-0 successes over Luxembourg and Belarus, also in Belfast.

O'Neill, however, warned the upcoming games against Switzerland and Sweden represent a step up in class.

"This game on Friday night is a test against a very good team - a Swiss team who are in a little bit of transition themselves but are a consistent team in terms of tournament football and a step up from what we have played in the last 12 months.

"But we have to be able to play against better teams. That'll be the challenge but we have to believe that we can do that.

"They (the players) have had a great year and have taken belief from that. It's been a positive experience for them on the international stage, particularly at home. I think this team will continue to grow and progress, over the next two to three years particularly. I think there are a lot of positive signs."