Michael O'Neill hails 'very good young player' Ruairi McConville after Northern Ireland debut

The Brighton and Hove Albion youngster was handed a late cameo in the 2-0 win over Belarus at Windsor Park

Michael O'Neill heaped praise on teenage defender Ruairi McConville after handing the 19-year-old his Northern Ireland debut on Friday night.

The Brighton and Hove Albion youngster was given a late cameo in the 2-0 win over Belarus at Windsor Park, a victory that keeps O'Neill's side on track for promotion in the UEFA Nations League.

McConville - who currently captains Northern Ireland's Under 19 squad - could earn more game time against Luxembourg on Monday after Ciaron Brown was ruled out through suspension.

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"He's been great all week. He's a very good young player and has been very impressive this week," said O'Neill.

"I felt at the time in the game we needed a bit of height and obviously Ruairi brings that. He's a big lad, but he's a big lad who can handle the ball and he goes and deals with that.

"I just felt that for the last 10 minutes we needed that in our back three. We had taken Daniel (Ballard) off and we had the benefit of bringing Josh on.

"And the only way I thought we were going to lose a goal was through a set-piece, so we wanted to get Ruairi on the pitch."

McConville was a late addition to O'Neill's squad following injuries to Paddy McNair, Eoin Toal and Jamal Lewis, that left him searching for defensive options and the Brighton and Hove Albion youngster was drafted in.

Despite throwing McConville into the fray on 86 minutes, and with the match sitting comfortably at 2-0, O'Neill insists the 19-year-old's introduction wasn't just a token gesture to ease the teenager into senior international action.

"It wasn't just a case of getting Ruairi on to make his debut for the sake of it. We needed him in that moment of the game and he helped us see the game out," added O'Neill.

Reflecting on his debut, former Linfield Academy starlet McConville said: "It's amazing, no one can really wipe the smile off my face.

"It’s a feeling that will stick with me the rest of my career but hopefully it’s the first of many. I'm going to work hard to get back in the squad and that's all I can do really.

"I heard the conversation they were having, saying they need a bit of height so as soon as I heard that I was getting excited. I was sitting on my hands, and I was ready when they gave me a nod. I didn’t know what to do, I was so excited and then when I stood up I got in the zone. I could just hear the fans all around me, I was so excited to get on the pitch.

"I couldn't believe how loud it was. I was trying to talk on the pitch and I couldn't hear myself. It was madness, but it was an experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life. There was still a job to be done when I came on and I tried to do that. We were focused on trying to get the clean sheet and to get the result and thankfully we got that."

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