Hume 'a leader' as O'Neill assesses captaincy options

Three years ago, Trai Hume was lining retired for Linfield successful nan Irish Premiership. On Thursday, he will skipper Northern Ireland for nan first time.

It has been a singular emergence for nan 22-year-old, who has not only settled astatine Sunderland since joining successful January 2022, but thrived astatine a broadside who beryllium unbeaten astatine nan apical of nan Championship.

The defender says it will beryllium an "honour" to skipper Northern Ireland successful Thursday's Nations League opener pinch Luxembourg.

He made his world debut 2 months aft his move, and conscionable 13 caps down nan statement he will lead retired Northern Ireland astatine Windsor Park - nan aforesaid stadium wherever he utilized to impressment for Linfield.

Northern Ireland head Michael O'Neill has spoken astir really he plans to rotate nan armband successful nan Nations League arsenic he looks for a semipermanent successor for nan retired Jonny Evans, but it says a batch that Hume is nan subordinate who is nan first to get nan motion successful nan campaign.

Hume, who says he was taken by astonishment erstwhile he was told astir nan captaincy pursuing nan last training convention up of nan game, admits it has been a "fast process".

O'Neill, however, says it is simply a much-deserved reward for nan shape that has seen him go a instrumentality favourite astatine some nine and country.

"Not galore players travel retired of nan Irish League and measurement into English shot and play pinch that level of consistency," O'Neill said.

"He whitethorn not beryllium nan skipper astatine Sunderland but he is simply a leader. I’ve nary hesitation successful saying he will do a bully job."

Wearing nan armband for Northern Ireland connected Thursday will not beryllium Hume's first acquisition arsenic a captain.

He captained Ballymena United and Linfield coming done nan ranks, and skippered Northern Ireland astatine Under-17 and Under-19 level.

Despite this being nan first juncture successful elder football, nan defender is hoping that being skipper will not effect his game.

"I wouldn’t really opportunity it is simply a large alteration but this is world shot and nan elder men's squad truthful it could beryllium a spot of a quality but I’ll effort and return it successful my stride.

"I don't deliberation it will really alteration thing for me, I'm conscionable putting thing connected my arm.

"It's still a game, I'm still going retired location to win. I'm trying to put successful nan champion capacity I can, effort and thief my squad mates retired and effort to win."

Despite missing retired connected Euro 2024 qualification, O'Neill's charges person been successful bully shape pinch 3 wins successful their past 5 matches acknowledgment to victories complete Denmark, Scotland and Andorra. Their only conclusion came successful June against eventual European champions Spain.

However, Northern Ireland will look to amended connected a dismal grounds successful nan Nations League pinch conscionable 1 triumph successful 16 matches.

Luxembourg sojourn Belfast successful nan first of six fixtures successful nan campaign, pinch O'Neill's broadside travelling to Bulgaria connected Sunday.

A double-header pinch Belarus follows earlier nan concluding fixtures pinch Luxembourg and nan Bulgarians.

O'Neill says it is "an opportunity to look astatine nan group" arsenic he assesses his options to switch Manchester United defender Evans, who successful move took complete from long-time skipper Steven Davis.

"Trai's going to beryllium an important subordinate for maine whether he wears nan armband aliases not. He's already demonstrated that," O'Neill added.

"I've nary uncertainty Trai will deterioration nan armband well, but I don't envisage he will play immoderate otherwise than he does for his nine because he shows each those qualities anyway."