UEFA Nations League: NI preparing to face Kosovo at Windsor Park
Northern Ireland take on Kosovo tomorrow (Saturday) at the National Stadium at Windsor Park, in the first of two must-win UEFA Nations League games.
Ian Baraclough’s side have yet to win in the campaign – and are desperate for points to avoid relegation from their Group.
They are currently third on the same number of points as fourth-place Cyprus.
Baraclough has branded the game – and the final one against Greece on Tuesday – as massive.
“We’ve got to be better than what we were,” he said.
“Results wise, we certainly want to get more points on the board and now we need to finish strongly in the Nations League to give ourselves confidence going into the Euros … you can’t waste these opportunities to get together.”
Meanwhile, Jonny Evans is closing in on his 100-cap milestone.
He will achieve that if he plays in both games.
Brother Corry who has 69 capts said: "It would be great for him.
"I think he has been looking at that sort of number for a while now and I am sure he would have liked to have hit it a lot sooner.
"He is a big player for the country, and as a family as a whole it is great as well that he is recognised as one of the most-capped players in the nation."
The kick-off at Windsor is 5pm.
Meanwhile, the Republic will take on Scotland at Hampden Park.
Stephen Kenny's side enjoyed a resounding 3-0 win over the Scots in Dublin in June as they bounced back from defeats in their opening two games against the Armenians and Ukraine.