Michael O’Neill didn’t have to bang on about Northern Ireland or use Tommy Wright’s influence to enlist the services of St Johnstone winger Matty Kennedy.
The former Everton youngster, who has Scottish parents but was born in Dundonald, has switched allegiance after playing for the Scots at U21 and U19 level .
A tough decision? Not so according to O’Neill who insists it was an ‘easy conversation’ persuading Kennedy to sign up with the Green and White Army.
Asked if former Northern Ireland team mate and Saints boss Wright had been asked to bend the 24-year-old’s ear, he joked: “Having Tommy in his ear would probably have put him off!
“No, it was something Matty was very keen to do and it wasn’t a case of us chasing and chasing him. The fact he was born here means there was a strong pull.
“Tommy has kept me informed of his progress, St Johnstone has given him a platform and I still think the best is yet to come from Matty.”
Kennedy, who has also played on loan at Portsmouth and Hibs, has scored 10 goals in 51 games for St Johnstone since joining the club from Cardiff City last year.
O’Neill said: “I think some of the games he has played against the bigger teams in Scotland, particularly last season, he really showed what he is capable of.
“Hopefully this will help elevate him as well. We’ve seen international football elevate so many of our players in their club careers and hopefully it does the same for Matty.”
While Kennedy represented Scotland at underage level, he struggled to make a breakthrough at senior level due to the form of Ryan Fraser and James Forrest.
O’Neill added: “We hoped to have the paperwork through in time for the Luxembourg game, but he came in to train at really short notice and was desperate to be involved.
“In those two days we saw what he is capable of and the opportunity is there now.”
Norwich City defender Jamal Lewis has also been included in O’Neill’s squad despite suffering an elbow injury against Crystal Palace at the weekend.
“There is ligament damage, which I suppose is a good thing in that there is no fracture,” he said. “We’ll see how things develop."
Northern Ireland face Holland in a Euro 2020 qualifier in Rotterdam on Thursday before meeting the Czech Republic in a Prague friendly four days later.
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