If 19-year-old Northern Ireland striker Callum Marshall plays tomorrow night in Hungary, it will not be his first encounter with Belarus.
Michael O’Neill’s team takes on Belarus in a behind closed doors Nations League game in the ZTE Arena in Zalaegerszeg, due to UEFA sanctions against the eastern Europeans.
With goals in short supply, the West Ham teenager – currently on loan with Huddersfield Town – may get up close and personal with Belarus for the second time in his career.
Marshall was on the pitch when Northern Ireland played Belarus in 2016 before traveling to Euro 2016 and reveals that it gave him a vision of the future.
“I was ball boy in the last game before they went to France, against Belarus (Northern Ireland won 3-0 at Windsor Park in May 2016)”, said the Glengormley man.
“I played for ClubNI, and because my age group won a tournament in Germany they got us to be ball boys for the last game.
“It was madness. The scenes after the game were class.
“They warned us not to go near the players asking for their shirts after the game, and we were like, ‘yeah, that’s fine’.
“Then as soon as the final whistle went, all the ball boys ran straight to the players asking them for everything.
“I got Olly Norwood’s boots, which was pretty mental for me.
“I remember going to the Fanzones for a couple of the games (in France) with my family.
“It was a great atmosphere and everyone seemed so happy, that’s what I remember.
“To be honest, I thought I might end up playing for Northern Ireland like those players.
“I always backed myself when I was younger.”
His dream came true on Friday June 16 of last year when he made his senior debut for Northern Ireland against Denmark at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Northern Ireland were losing 1-0 when Marshall came on in the 85th minute and sent the traveling fans wild when he poked home what seemed to be an equalising goal for the visitors in the fourth minute of added time.
However, the former Linfield player had to wait an agonising five minutes while VAR deliberated before ruling Jonny Evans offside in the build-up to the strike.
When the game finished in defeat, some of the senior players were concerned about how the debutant would take the blow.
“It was mad”, smiles Marshall. After the game, I remember everyone staring at me in the changing room because I was new.
“It was my debut and they didn’t know how I was going to take it.
“They were looking at me, half expecting me to start crying but I was just laughing in the changing room, I was in shock.
“I remember looking at my phone and I saw I was tagged in about 35 stories with mates saying ‘well done’.
“But by the time I got back to them they had deleted the messages because the goal had been ruled out! I didn’t know what to do then.
“I remember ringing my mum and dad and my mate back home, they said they couldn’t believe it. I think my mum was actually crying about the referee’s decision!
“It was an emotional night but it is what it is. Some things aren’t meant to be.
“I got a taste of what it will feel like when I do get my first goal especially as it was such a big game.
“It was a great experience and hopefully I’ll have a lot more of that to come.”
Northern Ireland beat Luxembourg and lost to Bulgaria in the opening Nations League fixtures last month, while Belarus drew with Bulgaria and beat Luxembourg in the Stade de Luxembourg, so an intriguing battle lies ahead tomorrow night.
If called upon, Marshall says he would ideally like to play as a traditional centre-forward, but insists he will play wherever his manager needs him to play.
“In the last camp Michael sort of played me as a left No 10 and in training he’s been playing me as a left No 10 rather than through the middle.
“We play three up front and there’s going to be different places I can play in the front three.
“If I had my preference it would be to play through the middle, but I’m not the best person to ask about that!
“He knows I’ve got a good left foot and can run in behind so he sees me more as a left No 10 at the moment.
“The manager decides the team and it just gives you another option to get more minutes, but fingers crossed I’m not on the left hand for the rest of my career and I can make my way into being an out and out striker.”
