Northern Ireland begin World Cup qualifying with a home game against Luxembourg on 4 September and an away match in Cologne against Germany four days later, both live on the BBC. The squad has not assembled since June and these are the first competitive fixtures since March. Michael O'Neill will name the squad at the start of September. Several players carry injury concerns, notably Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley, who has missed the start of his club season with a minor unspecified injury, and goalkeeper Conor Hazard, who is recovering from a knee injury and has missed Plymouth Argyle's opening matches. Ciaron Brown suffered a knee ligament setback and faces a race to prove his fitness.
Northern Ireland will begin their quest to reach a first World Cup since 1986 with home and away qualifying games against Luxembourg and Germany next month, which will be live on the BBC. It will be the first time the squad has assembled since June and the two tricky games are NI's first competitive fixtures since March. Michael O'Neill will name his squad for the opening fixtures at the start of September on Thursday afternoon. Ahead of the squad announcement, BBC Sport NI looks at the major talking points surrounding the fitness, form and summer moves that a number of players have made.
The main one is Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley, who has missed the start of his club's season with a minor but unspecified injury. Bradley sat out the Community Shield final defeat by Crystal Palace and Liverpool's opening Premier League win over Bournemouth on Friday night, with Reds boss Arne Slot yet to give an update on his fitness. The expectation is that O'Neill will include the 22-year-old in his squad and allow him to prove his fitness, such is his importance to the side and especially with a huge game in Cologne against Germany taking place just four days after the Luxembourg fixture.
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