Northern Ireland boss happy to welcome back ‘confident’ on-loan Hatter
Donley expected to lead the line for his country once more
Northern Ireland head coach Michael O’Neill is happy to be welcoming a ‘confident’ on-loan Luton midfielder Jamie Donley to his squad for their upcoming Nations League matches.
The 21-year-old played a big part during his country’s last outings in the competition, starting all four matches during the last international break, as they picked up eight points from their double header against Georgia, plus matches with Hungary and Ukraine. Donley, who is on a season-long loan deal at Kenilworth Road from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, was selected as a number nine by the former Blackburn and Stoke manager, tasked with leading the line on the international stage.
It’s a position that he hasn’t been utilised in for the Hatters under Jack Wilshere, playing in a deeper midfield role, where he has flourished in the last month. Scoring in stunning style on his return in the 4-1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers, Donley then added two more clinical finishes in the 3-1 success against Doncaster Rovers as Luton went on a fine run of five wins from seven to lift themselves into the play-off positions.
Donley, who has 14 caps to his name, with two goals, his last coming in March of this year, continued his fine form, enough to be nominated for October’s PFA Select Car Leasing Player of the Month award, although lost out to MK Dons striker Aaron Collins.
Having now scored four goals and added three assists in 12 League One outings for the Hatters, O’Neill is still likely to use him in a more advanced role once more when Northern Ireland host Ukraine on Saturday and then visit Hungary in midweek, as speaking to the Belfast News Letter, he said: “He's playing in two different squads so it's what the squad needs. I think that Jamie has played well for us as a nine.
"He's different in terms of what you might look for in a profile as a nine but he comes and links the play. I don't think you can compare the chances that he may get playing for Luton in League One. Luton are a strong team in League One whereas playing for Northern Ireland in Nations League, League B, they're not overly comparable. It's not down to position for Jamie, it's what he brings to the team, and I had good conversations with Jack on both Jamie and Callum (Marshall).
"They're both starting to do very well for him, Luton are on a good run at this minute in time, and I think Jack's going to have a really bright future as a manager. I like the way his team plays. The most important thing for me is that Jamie comes in confident and the fact that he's scoring goals at his club can only help him regardless of what position we play him in.”