Sunderland defender Trai Hume will captain Northern Ireland for the first time in Thursday’s Nations League opener with Luxembourg.
The 22-year-old has been handed the armband for the game at Windsor Park as Michael O’Neill assesses his options after the international retirement of Jonny Evans.
O’Neill has said he plans to rotate the armband throughout the Nations League as he seeks a permanent successor for Manchester United defender Evans.
“It’s not only important that we use this tournament wisely for progression and for the development of the team, but to get to decisions on that and see how people are,” O’Neill said.
“I said I would look at the situation throughout the Nations League. If you look at the past, when Aaron [Hughes] retired, Steven [Davis] was the natural successor to be the captain for a long time.
“When Steven wasn’t available then Jonny [Evans] was the natural successor. It wasn’t a very difficult or challenging decision that I had to make, to be honest.”
Hume has impressed for Sunderland, who currently top the Championship with four wins from four, since joining from Irish Premiership club Linfield in January 2022.
He made his international debut that March and has established himself as a key player under O’Neill.
“I’m proud. I know my family will be happy about it,” Hume said.
“I won’t let it affect me too much, I want to focus on the game and help my team-mates out on the pitch. That will be how I’m going about it.”
O’Neill is likely to be without Bolton defender Eoin Toal for the game with Luxembourg in Belfast, while Jamal Lewis will be assessed after returning from Brazil after signing for Sao Paulo on loan from Newcastle United.
However, Brodie Spencer and Jordan Thompson will definitely miss the Nations League opener on Thursday and the away fixture with Bulgaria on Sunday.
Northern Ireland have a dismal record in the Nations League, with just one win in 16 matches, but O’Neill is optimistic that his side can carry their recent form into the new League C campaign.
O’Neill said the team that qualified for Euro 2016 had made a habit out of beating teams they were expected to win against, and hoped the current generation could replicate that winning consistency.
“Progression in this tournament is to get to the next level, to get back to League B which means you have to aim to win the group,” said O’Neill.
“I don’t think it will be an easy task. Northern Ireland have always proven they can get results against the bigger teams in certain situations.
“Sometimes it has been around these types of teams where we have let ourselves down.
“Hopefully that’s something we can improve in the next campaign as well.”