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Northern Ireland will be spot on if play-off goes to penalties: Ian Baraclough

Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough says Northern Ireland have been practicing penalties, and will be ready for whatever transpires in Sarajevo on Thursday night
Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough says Northern Ireland have been practicing penalties, and will be ready for whatever transpires in Sarajevo on Thursday night Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough says Northern Ireland have been practicing penalties, and will be ready for whatever transpires in Sarajevo on Thursday night

NORTHERN Ireland have been working on penalties to make sure they will be spot on in case Thursday night’s European Championship qualifier play-off semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina goes all the way.

Perhaps as a consequence of the sterile environment in which games are being played at present, with supporters largely unable to attend, several games in the Carabao Cup and also the qualifying rounds of the Uefa Champions League and Europa League have gone to penalties.

Northern Ireland are sure to try and get back to the defensive doggedness that defined the successful years under Michael O’Neill in Sarajevo, with the lure of a potential final against either the Republic of Ireland or Slovakia at Windsor Park up for grabs.

And boss Ian Baraclough insists his men will be ready for any eventuality at the Grbavica Stadium.

“In most of the sessions, we touched on penalties, even though there wasn’t going to be any penalties last month for the Nations League games,” he said.

“We’ve been preparing from last month and if it does come to that, we’ve got penalty takers who are confident to step up and confident to go and put the ball in the back of the net when it’s needed.

“Of course you can’t replicate the pressure on a player when they step forward but all you can do is prepare as best you can.”

Baraclough yesterday announced his squad for Bosnia-Herzegovina clash, as well as the Nations League games against Austria on October 11 and Norway on October 14.

St Johnstone midfielder Alistair McCann was the one new face among the group, and Baraclough insist the 20-year-old deserves his chance to impress.

He said: “Alistair has been knocking on the door for a little while.

“He’s someone we’ve been aware of coming through the system. He was in the U21s with me, he’s been playing regularly for St Johnstone for the last year-and-a-half, a very consistent performer and someone who goes about his work quietly and fully deserves to be part of a really balanced squad.

“He’s energetic, he can get about the park, he’s played for St Johnstone in a couple of different positions, whether that’s as a holding midfielder or an attacking midfielder. He likes to get in the box when he’s given that attacking midfield role.

“He’s a good person, first and foremost. He fits the mould of what we’re looking for in terms of how he goes about his work, how he applies himself, and he’s a good player. He’ll fit in with the group really well, he knows many of them anyway so it won’t be too daunting for them.

“His play with St Johnstone has been consistent, he was surprised when I rang him but he’s certainly ready for it.”