Northern Ireland talking points: Home comforts and goalkeeper dilemma

Northern Ireland continue their World Cup qualifying campaign with the first of a home doubleheader when Slovakia visit Windsor Park on Friday.

Here the PA news agency looks at the key talking points ahead of the game.

Crunch game

Michael O’Neill might not want to call this a must-win but it is difficult to see a route out of Group A for Northern Ireland if they do not.

Slovakia’s win over Germany in their group opener complicated the picture even more for Northern Ireland who need to get points on the board in their home games to keep their destiny in their own hands.

While the Nations League appears all but certain to offer Northern Ireland a route into the play-offs regardless, for the rest of Group A to mean anything, Friday is a critical game.

Confidence high

Although beaten 3-1 by Germany last time out, the performance in Cologne has lifted rather than dented Northern Irish confidence.

O’Neill’s young side caused Germany plenty of problems and looked worthy of at least a point until the game got away from them with two rapid goals with around 20 minutes left to play.

A harsh lesson, yes, but also a display with positives to take. Throw in some home comforts – Northern Ireland are unbeaten in their last six games at Windsor Park, winning five – and the mood is buoyant.

Revenge mission

The last time Slovakia were in Belfast, it ended in heartbreak as Northern Ireland were denied a place at Euro 2020 by the width of a post.

In a qualifying play-off in front of a much-reduced crowd amid the pandemic, Juraj Kucka’s early goal put Slovakia before Milan Skriniar’s 88th-minute own goal. Kyle Lafferty then hit the post for Ian Baraclough’s side in a dramatic finish before Michal Duris’ struck an extra-time winner for Slovakia.

Only three players that started the game for Northern Ireland – Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Paddy McNair and Josh Magennis – remain in the squad, while Ali McCann and Daniel Ballard were unused substitutes.

Hazard returns

Peacock-Farrell made his first Northern Ireland starts in a year last month to move on to 50 caps. His return after a rough time at Birmingham last season was needed with both Pierce Charles and Conor Hazard out injured, leaving O’Neill desperately short of experience in goal.

This month Hazard is back, having missed the start of the season with a knee injury suffered in Northern Ireland’s friendly loss to Denmark in June.

His club form last season would have put Hazard ahead of Peacock-Farrell in the pecking order, but with only three appearances under his belt this term, is that enough to take the gloves now?

Pre-match tribute

Before kick-off at Windsor Park there will be a moment’s applause to recognise four former internationals who have died in recent months.

Peter McParland, a hero of the 1958 World Cup campaign, died in May aged 91 and his funeral took place a week before Northern Ireland’s friendly against Iceland in June, but the Irish FA said it wanted to wait for a competitive fixture to pay tribute, which will now take place with his family in attendance.

The IFA will also recognise former Burnley forward Willie Irvine, who died in July aged 82, former Newcastle manager Willie McFaul, who died last week aged 82, and former Manchester United and Huddersfield midfielder Jimmy Nicholson, who died on Thursday, also aged 82.