Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has made no bones about his desire to give youth a chance. Included in the squad this international window are teenagers Ceadach O'Neill, Tom Atcheson, Braiden Graham and Kieran Morrison, while 21-year-old Patrick Kelly and 22-year-old Terry Devlin have begun to stake their claim for regular inclusion. A golden generation, or is this simply Northern Ireland's football factory - the IFA JD National Academy - beginning to bear fruit?
As Northern Ireland fans began to digest Monday's 0-0 draw at home to Hungary, following a 1-0 win in Georgia on Friday which has ensured a positive start to their Nations League campaign, O'Neill visited Campbell College which is home to the academy where teenage hopefuls seek to develop into potential stars at club and international level. "I know about all these players in here, know the clubs they are attracting attention from, their positions," O'Neill told BBC Sport NI. "We have regular meetings as staff every month with regular updates on the academy and where those players are going.
"Our job is to prepare them as best as possible and guide them if that opportunity comes to take the next step into the professional game in England or Scotland." The academy at Campbell College is a residential, designed for 24 elite young players at under-15 and under-16 level, providing preparation for life away from home should that come to pass. While athletes, they remain students with equal emphasis on football and life skills. Education in the classroom is a key component because, in the world of professional football, there are no guarantees.
Academy student Bailey Magee plays at club level with Glenavon. His day is typical for a 16-year-old with school dominating until mid-afternoon. Once the bell rings, however, it is time to hit the gym and the pitch before returning to any school work in the evening.
If his dream of becoming a professional footballer comes true, then spending so much time away from home will be worth it. "Going away with Northern Ireland has helped me because I'm able to stay away from home and you get used to that a wee bit," said Magee. "The hardest times are [after] Christmas because that's when you're coming back after spending a long time with family.
"The IFA and Campbell have done really well when you're trying to mix the two and balance football with studies. "I'll work hard until the end of the year and whatever happens, happens. I'll maybe do A-Levels, maybe a B.Tech or full-time football academy with the likes of Linfield or Larne, so there are loads of different pathways for us." Those sentiments are shared by 15-year-old Kayson Braniff who is currently on the books at Linfield.
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