Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill confirmed that Liverpool defender Conor Bradley is making progress after a knee injury sustained in the club’s goalless draw with Arsenal in January. The 23‑year‑old missed the remainder of the Premier League campaign and the World Cup play‑off loss to Italy. O'Neill declined to set a return date, citing confidentiality between the player and Liverpool.

O'Neill announced Bradley’s four-year extension to his Northern Ireland contract on Wednesday, highlighting the defender’s commitment despite his rehab. He said the squad will travel to face Guinea and France in June, but will be without several regulars, including Sunderland’s Dan Ballard, Portsmouth’s Terry Devlin and Paddy McNair. The manager praised the squad’s cohesion and the players’ willingness to stay fit for international duty.

With key figures missing, O'Neill turned to youth, naming uncapped teenagers Braiden Graham and Ceadach O'Neill for the friendlies and retaining Liverpool’s Kieran Morrison. He stressed the need to protect emerging talent and give them a clear pathway to senior caps. The upcoming fixtures will test depth, but the manager believes the team is in a good place heading into the matches.