POTENTIAL questions about his motivation and the player's youth were factors in Northern Ireland manager not including Cliftonville prodigy Sean Moore in his opening senior squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Instead of bringing him to San Marino late this month and then home to Belfast to face Finland, O'Neill is hoping that the teenager will be playing for NI U19s in continuing qualification for Euro 2023 at that level.
Moore has also been called up for a Republic of Ireland U19 training camp, as they also prepare for games in that Elite Round stage later this month.
O'Neill said: "I watched Sean last week in the game against Glentoran and was very impressed with how he played - but you are looking at a young player who has had a handful of games, not even a full season in the Irish League behind him.
"I think it would be asking a lot to put him into that [senior squad] scenario. I think people would possibly question my motives for doing so, which I don't think would be the right thing for the player."
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O'Neill has spoken often on the subject of player eligibility and switches of international allegiance, but he did make a vain attempt to lessen the attention surrounding the talented Moore:
"I think we just need to let this young player enjoy his football and maybe [the press] write a little bit less about him than they have been.
"That's the most important thing: he's a young player, he's doing extremely well. I have relatives who are season ticket-holders at Cliftonville and they well me regularly how well he is doing.
"On the occasion I watched him he scored two great goals. I thought he was a threat throughout the game. He has been selected for our Under-19 squad which will play in the Elite phase of the tournament, and hopefully he takes up that invitation."
