Northern Ireland v USA

“With the squad we have, and some of the lads who went to the Euros in 2016 getting older now, there won’t be many more chances to qualify for a World Cup. We want to start this campaign well and get as many points on the board as possible.” Today’s friendly clash with USA is, of course, sandwiched between FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers against Italy and Bulgaria and McLaughlin knows the showdown with the Americans will give manager Ian Baraclough the opportunity to run the rule over several players. He said: “I think the situation with friendlies, especially with what is going on at the minute, isn’t great but it’s something all nations in the smaller groups have to get on with. “The fixture schedules are crazy and you can see players picking up injuries. Coming from a crazy schedule at club level to playing three international games in a short space of time is hard. You can’t keep turning out the same players all the time. “I think players will need to be looked after but that always gives someone else a chance.” McLaughlin is back to his best after an injury lay-off earlier this year and, having experienced Wembley glory for the second time in his career, he hopes to bring his club form on to the international stage in the next two games. “It was a nice bonus to win a trophy this season with Sunderland,” he said. “The league campaign is relentless, so any cup competition is a nice distraction and to go and win it was a very special day, even if the celebrations had to be curtailed due to all the current Covid restrictions. “I played at Wembley for Fleetwood in 2014 and not many players get the chance to do it twice. It was great to be able to go there and win again. It could be the last time I play there so it is brilliant to have the memories to look back on. “I think this season has gone well for me. I had a hernia operation after playing with the problem for a few months but I’ve been back for a while now and I feel good.” Although Will Grigg has left the Stadium of Light following a loan move to MK Dons, McLaughlin still has familiar faces - and accents - around the Black Cats with Tom Flanagan, Jordan Jones and Carl Winchester also in their squad. “It’s good having so many Northern Ireland players at Sunderland. They are all really good lads,” he pointed out. “It all adds to the team spirit there. It was particularly good to see Carl Winchester come in because we grew up close to each other in Belfast and I hadn’t seen him in a long time. Jordan Jones also came in back in January and he’s already making a big impression. “It’s good to have a few familiar accents around, although I think I’m the only one who can understand Carl (Winchester). All the lads keep asking why I don’t sound like him!”

CONOR McLAUGHLIN

Position Right back Date Of Birth 26.07.1991 Place Of Birth

RIGHT BACK

Belfast Height 183cm Weight 71kg

CLUB RECORD

2

SQUAD NO

CLUBS Preston North End

24

Shrewsbury Town (loan)

4

Fleetwood Town

172

Millwall

32 33

Sunderland

INTERNATIONAL RECORD

2

SQUAD NO

Debut 11.10.11 v Italy (A) Lost 0-3 Northern Ireland U16 Northern Ireland U17 Northern Ireland U19 Northern Ireland U21

Caps 42 Goals 1

9 9

14

7

19

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