AFTER Jonny Evans announced his retirement after 107 caps over 18 years of sterling service, Northern Ireland need a new leader at the back.
Michael O’Neill has watched his Praetorian Guard of Evans, Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas and Craig Cathcart exit the international stage in recent months.
The international manager is working on a new incarnation with players like Dan Ballard, Trai Hume, Conor Bradley, Shea Charles and Isaac Price being asked to step up to the plate.
At 24, Sunderland defender Ballard already has significant international experience, with 24 appearances under his belt, scoring three times.
The Stevenage-born man, who has family in Holywood, has impressed since making his debut for Northern Ireland in 2020 and is the player most commentators are looking at to fill the void left by Evans’ absence.
Ballard says Evans is irreplaceable but believes this young Northern Ireland team can adapt and cope, particularly having learned so much from the players who have now retired.
“He had over 100 caps, and none of us have done that”, said the robust, young centre-half.
“And the level he plays at is a lot higher than us, so you don’t replace that.
“He was always a massive boost when he was here, and he isn’t someone who can be replaced.
“I haven’t spoken to him recently, but it was nice to play with him during the summer and I try to cherish that.
“We never knew when he was going to retire, and he is getting older now and we knew this day would come. It is disappointing, but we sort of half expected it as well.
“It is up to us to step up now. When you miss a presence like Jonny Evans, you just have to fill the void and try and help the team. It isn’t just me, others have stepped up.
“I feel it is a collective responsibility, and it will help me and a few others who can step up.
“You can’t replace Jonny, but when you try and fill the void, it gives you an extra boost to try and help the team.
“I was quite lucky. I came in four or five years ago now so I caught the end of that really good group that reached the Euros.
“To see the levels they set, even players like Josh Magennis and Paddy McNair who are still here. I am still learning off them.
“I feel they played a massive role, even when I wasn’t playing games for Northern Ireland but was in and around the squad.
“They taught me things that I was able to use at my club. I am forever thankful to be around those players.”
A decision O’Neill has yet to make is who his captain will be against Luxembourg in the Nations League opener on Thursday night without Davis and Evans at his disposal.
Ballard will be one of those in the manager’s thinking and has donned the armband before, in the 2-0 win over Andorra back in June.
That win was the third in five games, having also beaten Denmark and Scotland as O’Neill gets to work with this new squad.
The former Arsenal youth player missed pre-season with a knee injury that required minor surgery in July.
He says he feels fit and strong again, is eager to get back into action and feels Northern Ireland have a great chance in the Nations League against Luxembourg, Bulgaria and Belarus.
“I missed most of pre-season which was a pain, but my knee feels very good.
“Everything feels good and I just need more game time now.
“The last few games have been really positive.
“We have got some good results and feel more confident on the pitch.
“Looking ahead to these next six games, I feel they are all winnable games. I feel we have a lot more confidence now.
“The confidence comes from winning. That helps a lot.
“I feel we have started to play together for a few years now, and Michael coming back was a big boost for the group.
“I think we were trying things but not winning games at the start, and it was a tough period.
“But then you start getting a few positive results and you can see things are working and that gives you more belief going into games.”
Can the fans dare to dream about qualification for another major tournament following O’Neill’s success in 2016? Ballard feels it is within the gift of this young group of players.
“I think so. Although we are a younger team now, everyone is starting to grow and get more game time and playing with each other for longer has helped us.
“It took that team (Euro 2016) two or three times before they gelled together.
“I think there will be one qualifying campaign where we get off to a good start and we have to keep that going.
“Hopefully it is the next one, or the one after that, when that happens.”
Northern Ireland play Luxembourg in the UEFA Nations League (C3) at Windsor Park on Thursday night (7.45pm) before taking on Bulgaria in the Hristo Botev Stadium on Sunday (5pm).
