Stuart Dallas Highlights Key Players Ahead of World Cup Qualifier
Former Northern Ireland and Leeds United player Stuart Dallas is joining BBC Sport NI's coverage of the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg.
The start of a new qualification campaign always brings a great level of excitement.
Each attempt to reach a major tournament begins with hope, accompanied by the pressure to perform at the highest level in the sport.
One player I am particularly excited to see in this competitive environment is Isaac Price.
At just 21 years old, he has already established himself as a significant player under Michael O'Neill, consistently finding himself in the right position to score.
While he is already an impressive footballer, there remains room for improvement, which is thrilling as he continues to develop his game.
'Price Will Always Pose a Goal-Scoring Threat'
I have been following Isaac's progress in the Championship with West Brom, and he has made a strong start to the season.
He plays a crucial role in the team and in Michael's plans, showcasing his exciting talent. Isaac has taken an unconventional path compared to many players.
After leaving Everton, he took a significant risk by moving to Standard Liege in Belgium, but he has proven his worth and succeeded.
Now back in England with West Brom, he has been exceptional since joining the club.
In a recent match against Wrexham, he scored twice, demonstrating his ability to drift in and out of games while still posing a constant goal-scoring threat.
Finding a regular goalscorer is vital in international football.
When we qualified for Euro 2016, we had Kyle Lafferty, who seemed likely to score in every game. Isaac is currently performing well, and I hope he can have a similar impact in this campaign.
'Peacock-Farrell More Than Capable'
There have been some injury concerns, particularly with Pierce Charles and Daniel Ballard, and I can imagine Michael was anxiously watching the final league matches before the international break, hoping everyone would come through healthy.
Missing key players is always a setback, which is not ideal for Michael.
The goalkeeping situation has become challenging with Pierce out and Conor Hazard still sidelined. Michael's strategy may depend on the specific game situation, as different matches require different personnel.
We know what Pierce contributes with his ball-handling skills, but he may not be as physically imposing as Bailey Peacock-Farrell, for example.
Facing Luxembourg presents a different challenge than playing against Germany. Michael might prefer a more aggressive approach, pushing everyone up the pitch and opting for longer kicks.
While it may alter the team's dynamics slightly, I don't believe it will disrupt the overall performance significantly.
There are capable goalkeepers available to step in, and Bailey has considerable experience representing Northern Ireland.
If Michael chooses him, Bailey is more than capable of being an effective replacement.
Stuart Dallas spoke with BBC Sport NI's Jonathan Bradley.
Watch Northern Ireland take on Luxembourg on Thursday, September 4 at 19:30 BST on BBC iPlayer, BBC Three, and BBC Two NI. You can also listen on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster, and follow live updates on the BBC Sport website and app.