Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill says Conor Bradley could “form the backbone” of his squad for 10 years after recalling the Liverpool defender.
Bradley missed much of his country’s unsuccessful Uefa Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a back injury but is in contention for friendlies in Romania and Scotland later this month.
“We have seven players under the age of 21 and, given Conor’s form for Liverpool in recent weeks, he is probably the most high-profile of those,” said O’Neill.
“He’s one of the young players who is going to form the backbone of this squad for what could be as many as 10 years.”
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A Liverpool academy signing from Dungannon United in September 2019, Bradley made his senior international debut as a 17-year-old in 2021.
The prodigy spent 2022/23 on loan at Bolton Wanderers before his current breakthrough campaign, setting up a goal on his first start of the season in a 4-0 win at Bournemouth and producing a goal and two assists in a 4-1 home victory over Chelsea in Liverpool’s next game.
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The right-back has quickly established himself as a regular starter for an injury-hit squad, featuring in the Reds’ Carabao Cup final triumph and adding two more assists in a 5-2 FA Cup fourth round win at Norwich City.
Bradley signed a new long-term contract in December and said last week that he has “a long way to go” before fulfilling his aim of becoming a “seasoned pro” comparable to Trent Alexander-Arnold or Andy Robertson.
“My mum’s brilliant at making sure I always think I haven’t made it yet,” the 20-year-old told Sky Sports. “Robbo helps me quite a bit. He keeps telling me to be consistent.”
Manager Jurgen Klopp, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, has been “a massive part of my football journey”, Bradley said.
“I owe everything to him,” he added. “He’s given me my breakthrough. I just want to try to cherish every little bit we get left of him because he’s one of the best managers in the world.”
Northern Ireland face Romania on March 22 and Scotland on March 26.
