Conor Bradley's Impact on Northern Ireland's World Cup Play-off Hopes

Conor Bradley's Impact on Northern Ireland's World Cup Play-off Hopes

Conor Bradley's Impact on Northern Ireland's World Cup Play-off Hopes

Former international Stephen Craigan believes that despite his injury, defender Conor Bradley should accompany the Northern Ireland team for the World Cup play-off in March.

The Liverpool full-back suffered a significant knee injury during Thursday's goalless draw against Arsenal, which has ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

Northern Ireland is set to face Italy in a play-off semi-final on March 26. If they manage to overcome the European heavyweights, they will meet either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina in the final.

Although the 22-year-old will not be able to contribute on the field, Craigan believes his presence could serve as additional motivation for Michael O'Neill's squad.

"Conor will be well into his rehabilitation by that time, and sometimes a change of scenery can be beneficial for a player," Craigan, who earned 52 caps during his playing career, told BBC Sport NI.

He recalled a previous instance when Bradley chose to remain with the team instead of returning to Liverpool during a suspension for a match against Germany.

While acknowledging that Liverpool will have a say in whether Bradley travels with the Northern Ireland squad, Craigan expressed hope that an agreement could be reached. "You need as many positive influences as possible," he added.

"He is our most influential player, and his vibrant personality is a significant asset. Losing that presence would be felt both on and off the pitch."

Bradley 'a Huge Loss' for Northern Ireland

Craigan emphasized that losing a player of Bradley's caliber is a "huge loss," but he remains optimistic that Northern Ireland can still surprise Italy, who are seeking to qualify for their first World Cup since 2014.

Goalkeeper Pierce Charles is also a concern due to a shoulder injury sustained at Sheffield Wednesday, and O'Neill will be hoping for no further injuries among his key players ahead of the match.

"Absolutely, we can do it. We need to reach a performance level we haven't achieved in a long time. The Slovakia game, where we secured a 2-0 victory in October, was very close, and we're hoping to replicate large parts of that performance," Craigan stated.

Potential candidates to fill in for Bradley at right-back include Sunderland's Trai Hume, versatile player Brodie Spencer, Portsmouth's Terry Devlin, and Swansea City midfielder Ethan Galbraith.

Craigan noted a small silver lining in the timing of the injury, as it occurred well in advance of the play-offs, allowing O'Neill time to strategize. "It didn't happen right before the game, so he has time to develop a game plan to address the gap left by Conor's absence," he said.

"While we have some cover in that position, they unfortunately do not possess the same qualities as Conor. However, when working with a limited pool of players, we must find ways to make it work. If we can keep all our key players fit, aside from Conor, we can head to Italy and create a significant upset."

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