Northern Ireland will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to their UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying, but they face home and away fixtures to Germany and the Netherlands.

Luxembourg come to Windsor Park for a friendly match on Thursday 5th September before the Germans arrive on Monday 9th September. The squad for these fixtures will be released on Wednesday 28th August, but I am going to try and predict what the squad will be, and what the starting XI’s for those matches might be based on my squad.

The last Northern Ireland squad selected was for the Euro 2020 Qualifiers against Estonia and Belarus, with the team travelling back with two wins, making it a clean sweep against these countries in qualifying. The squad for those matches was as follows:

Goalkeepers: McGovern (Norwich City), Peacock-Farrell (Leeds United), Hazard (Celtic).

Defenders: Hughes (Hearts), McAuley (Rangers), J Evans (Leicester City), Cathcart (Watford), C McLaughlin (unattached), McNair (Middlesbrough), Lewis (Norwich City), M Smith (Hearts), Flanagan (Sunderland), Ballard (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Davis (Rangers), C Evans (Blackburn Rovers), Ferguson (Millwall), Dallas (Leeds United), Saville (Middlesbrough), Jones (Rangers), Whyte (Oxford United), Thompson (Blackpool), Sykes (Oxford United).

Forwards: Lafferty (Rangers), Magennis (Bolton Wanderers), Boyce (Burton Albion), Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Washington (unattached).

This was a strong panel which Micheal O’Neill had selected, experience and youth had a nice blend, as well as selecting the starting XI’s with players that he trusted as the season had ended for many of the players, while the opposition’s season was still in full flow.

The Luxembourg game will provide an opportunity for players to get some much needed game time, as well as helping to integrate the youth into the squad even more. I think in this game, Micheal will select a squad containing the first choice players that haven’t had much game time this season along with some of the younger players before handing out international and home debuts to some of the players.

The Germany game isn’t exactly a must win for Northern Ireland, however, a shock point or win will provide them breathing space with the Dutch closing in with games in hand. Although automatic qualification for Northern Ireland is unlikely, there is a good team spirit and confidence in this side which is something that has been a common theme under Micheal O’Neill.

This will be the first squad selection of the 2019-20 season, with many of the Northern Ireland players moving to different clubs. A common theme that I have noticed is the ‘fringe’ players of the Northern Ireland squad pushing into their club’s first teams and performing well.

The standout performer from the Northern Ireland panel is Liam Donnelly. Liam has one cap for his county, coming back in 2014 against Chile, being subbed on in the 89th minute. He was the captain of the under-23 squad and holds the record for most appearances at under-23 level for Northern Ireland. He had an impressive pre-season, being played in midfield, despite being traditionally a full-back, scoring two goals against Celtic at the start of the season. His goal-scoring form has continued in the opening seven matches for Motherwell, scoring seven goals. I believe he has done more than enough to earn a call-up, especially when a midfield slot has been left open with the untimely retirement of Oliver Norwood.

My squad for these matches will contain a panel of 26 as Micheal O’Neil has liked to take extra players to help them gel into the squad. The match-day squad will contain only 23 players, therefore three will drop out.

My Squad for Luxembourg and Germany:

Goalkeepers: Peacock-Farrell (Burnley), McGovern (Norwich), Carson (Motherwell).

Defenders: J Evans (Leicester), Cathcart (Watford), McAuley (Unattached), Smith (Hearts), McLaughlin (Sunderland), Lewis (Norwich), Flanagan (Sunderland)

Midfielders: Davis (Rangers), Saville (Middlesbrough), C Evans (Blackburn), McNair (Middlesbrough), Donnelly (Motherwell), Dallas (Leeds), Whyte (Cardiff), Jones (Rangers), Sykes (Oxford), Thompson (Blackpool)

Forwards: Washington (Hearts), Boyce (Burton), Lafferty (Unattached), Magennis (Hull), Smyth (Wycome), Lavery (Linfield)

That was my Northern Ireland squad for Luxembourg and Germany. As there is 26 players, three will drop out and I expect them to be McNair, Washington and McLaughlin for Luxemborg and Lavery, Sykes and Flanagan.

My Starting XI vs Luxembourg

This is the team I think that will start against Luxembourg with Micheal O’Neill using all six substitutes available to him. I expect Lavery, Sykes and Smyth to make an appearance at some stage, along with McGovern, Thompson and Dallas.

Getting game time for those who need it for the Germany match is crucial, but also resting the key players to ensure they don’t get injured is also key for the team, therefore a blend of both is vital in this friendly match.

The match vs Germany is going to be a very difficult match, and the match is a qualifier so full strength is the order of the day for Micheal O’Neill’s side.

My Starting XI vs Germany

In this match against the German’s I think Micheal O’Neill needs to select players that are getting regular game time. Between the sticks, Peacock-Farrell retains his place in competitive action for Northern Ireland, despite not playing a single minute in club football this season, as goes for the rest of the goalkeepers. Dallas comes in for Smith at right-back from my prediction for Luxembourg as he is getting regular game time in this position for Leeds, carries experience and can get forward when needed. The rest of the defence is made up of Premier League players. The centre-back pairing of Evans and Cathcart haven’t had much game time together for Northern Ireland, but after starting the last few games together, they look nailed on to start this match to. Lewis retains his place at left-back, mainly due to lack of choice, he could struggle in this match and might be a liability but after coming up against the likes of Salah this season so far, he is best placed out of everyone to play at left-back.

The midfield trio looks nailed on, helped by the retirement of Norwood, McNair keeps his place, but I am unsure if he will play the deeper midfield role or the more advanced role like he did against Belarus and Estonia. If he doesn’t play the deeper role, it will be played by Davis, who has played there for Rangers this season. Saville will provide the creative spark and will be looking to perform to the same level, if not better than he did when he made his international debut last time against Germany, coming on as a sub. Daivs will get the nod as captain again, and with him putting in performances of a high standard without regular football, with regular football this season, I expect him to be even better.

The front three is the hardest positions to pick for Northern Ireland as they either have three or four forwards in form, or none at all. Washington has been getting regular game time for Hearts, scoring a few goals as well. I expect him to get the nod against Germany due to this, along with his heroics against Estonia. Jones has been in spectacular form for Rangers so far this season and the German right-back can expect a tough night due to the form and skill that Jones currently has. The right side is probably the hardest of the three to choose. McGinn and Whyte are the two most likely to be fighting for this position, but Magennis has also been deployed there as well. I haven’t selected McGinn in my panel, due to the form of players elsewhere on the pitch. Whyte has been signed for Cardiff, and is getting regular football. His pace will be vital and the pace from both sides of the pitch will be vital to break down the German defence.

I expect Micheal to rely on his bench as he has done in all the qualifiers so far. Magennis is likely to make an appearance, given his form for his country and his last minute goal against the German’s last time around. Corry Evans could make an appearance to sure up the midfield if the game is level or in favour of Northern Ireland late on. Micheal Smith or Conor McLaughlin could also make an appearance for this same reason, with Dallas pushing forward. If Northern Ireland are still in the game late on, Lafferty could make an appearance for the height and hold up play, or Paul Smyth can come on and provide the spark that they need.