Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill said it is “very positive” for his side to have another player featuring in the Premier League after Callum Marshall’s senior West Ham debut on Saturday.
The 20-year-old striker was brought on for the final half hour of his side’s 2-0 defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates.
Speaking after the game, the Hammers’ new manager Nuno Espirito Santo said Marshall definitely has something his side “can use” across the remainder of the season.
Northern Ireland face Slovakia in a key 2026 World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park on Friday night with Marshall becoming the fifth different player in O’Neill’s squad to feature in England’s top flight this season.
“There’s a lot going on there for a young player to deal with but Callum’s very focused, very driven and trains extremely hard and wants to do well,” said O’Neill of a player who had loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield Town over the past two seasons.
“[He] is impatient, which you expect in young players as well, and I’m delighted. Callum always shows up well in the camp.
“It’s always difficult. If you look around the Premier League, there’s not many 20-year-old number nines getting loads of minutes, so it’s a big challenge for him to get that and it was very positive to see Nuno giving him those minutes so early in his tenure at the club.”
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