New West Brom summer signing scores impressive goal on international stage as Birmingham City man features

West Brom summer signing Paddy McNair opened the scoring for Northern Ireland on Thursday night as they got their Nations League campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory over Luxembourg in Belfast.

McNair was at the heart of back three, with manager Michael O’Neill opting to use wing-backs in a bid to exploit the space out wide. Northern Ireland started on the front foot as they looked to pen Luxembourg inside their own half. After a couple of early chances for Callum Marshall and Dion Charles, former Sunderland and Middlesbrough defender McNair opened the scoring after 11 minutes as the visitors failed to deal with Ciaron Brown's long throw and the Northern Irishman had enough time to pick his spot and impressively fire into the corner from the centre of the penalty area.

Five minutes later, Sunderland’s Dan Ballard doubled the advantage with a well-taken goal. Conor Bradley earned a free-kick as he was fouled just before breaking into the penalty box. From the free-kick, George Saville played a flat ball into six-yard box and Ballard tidily swept home for his fourth goal at international level. Northern Ireland had further chances to add to their tally but were unable to take them as they now prepare to face Bulgaria away from home this weekend.

“I think we have momentum and confidence is growing,” manager O’Neill said after the game. “A lot of these lads came into international football and didn’t win many games at the outset, but now they have that winning feeling. Especially (at Windsor Park), it is always nice to come back and play here. You see what it means to them in the dressing room.

“I said to them that many of them will have long international careers so it is nice to win. There are always periods where you play for Northern Ireland during difficult times and you don’t win. The best players have always had to do that. So it is nice they are winning international games so early in their careers.”

McNair joined West Brom on a six-month loan during the summer as he will head off to the MLS with San Diego FC in January. He joined the newly-formed American club in the summer before signing for the Baggies, with the 2025 MLS season not getting underway until the new year. Birmingham City goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell also featured for Northern Ireland on Thursday as he kept a clean sheet, although he had very little to do as the home side ran out deserved winners.