Northern Ireland: Michael O’Neill wants ‘strongest’ squad for Denmark and Iceland as he hails Conor Bradley

Liverpool’s Bradley missed the games against Switzerland and Sweden because of a hamstring injury sustained in February.

He made a return for his club in April, although he was absent with what the Reds called a “minor injury” as they clinched the Premier League title with a win against Tottenham last weekend.

“His contribution for us has been immense. In the Nations League he was terrific across the six games. Unfortunately we lost him for the games in March,” said O’Neill.

“I think he’s probably frustrated with his contribution at Liverpool; he’d have contributed a lot more but injury obviously deprived him of that.

“He’s a big player with a big future, but he’s been unlucky with injuries and hopefully he gets a period without injury where he can really show his potential.”

As a first Northern Ireland international to pick up a winners’ medal in the Premier League since Jonny Evans with Manchester United in 2013, O’Neill thinks Bradley’s standing in the squad will be “enhanced” when they next meet up.

“Conor has a presence in the squad. As a Premier League winner that will only be enhanced,” O’Neill said.

“We’ve not had that since Jonny Evans. Jonny always had a presence about him and I can see a lot of similarities.

“Although Conor is a younger player, [he is] developing into that kind of player that Jonny was for Northern Ireland.”