Gerry Armstrong is already working wonders for Northern Ireland in his role as elite player mentor.

He has recently spoken to Newcastle's Shane Ferguson and former Derry City winger James McClean, who joined Sunderland in August.

Presumably they were "at risk".

Armstrong told the Daily Mail: "Let's just leave it at that. I've talked to them. But I can tell you, there's two who have come back already, who played for us at Under 17, went to the Republic and are now back.

"They've done that because of a lack of opportunity, but also not feeling part of it. Culturally they couldn't settle. It's interesting, a lot of people don't understand it."