The first International break of the 2019-20 season is here, and for Northern Ireland that means another match against Germany. But before that match, the Green and White army host Luxembourg in a friendly, or as the Irish Football Association like to put it, an International Challenge Match.

The match will take place on Thursday 5th September, with kick-off at 7.45pm. This match will also give fans the opportunity to applaud a true legend of football for Northern Ireland, record outfield caps holder, Aaron Hughes. Speaking about record outfield caps, Steven Davis will join Hughes with 112 caps, should he make an appearance in this match. However, Davis is not expected to start the match, due to Michael O’Neill stating that Corry Evans will captain the side against Luxembourg.

Micheal O’Neill has already stated that he wants to use this match to give players that have been in the squad for the last year or two but haven’t had an opportunity to play, an opportunity to get a chance in front of a home crowd. There is also a few injury concerns for O’Neill, with the most notable drop-out being Rangers winger, Jordan Jones, due to an injury he picked up with 17 seconds to go against Celtic, getting sent off in the tackle that caused the injury.

In my own squad predictions I correctly predicted the three goalkeepers that Micheal O’Neill would choose, as well as all the defenders apart from Callum Morris, who replaced Gareth McAuley. In midfield I correctly named nine players, with McGinn and Ferguson getting the nod ahead of Mark Sykes, who was not included in the initial squad, but has received a call-up due to the injury to Jones. Three of the forwards I predicted to be in the squad were called up, with Lafferty and Lavery missing out, however, Smyth had to pull out so Lavery did make it into the squad after his heroics for Linfield and on Wedensday, Lafferty was called-up to the squad to bolster the squad due to doubts over the fitness of Boyce.

The current squad for the Luxembourg match is as follows:

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

Defenders: J Evans (Leicester City), Cathcart (Watford), McLaughlin (Sunderland), Lewis (Norwich City), Flanagan (Sunderland), Morris (Ross County)

Midfielders: Davis (Rangers), McGinn (Aberdeen), C Evans (Blackburn Rovers), Dallas (Leeds Utd), Ferguson (Millwall), McNair (Sunderland), Saville (Middlesbrough), Whyte (Cardiff City), Thompson (Blackpool), Donnelly (Motherwell), Sykes (Oxford United)

Strikers: Magennis (Hull City), Washington (Hearts), Boyce (Burton Albion), Lavery (Linfield), Lafferty (Sarpsborg)

My starting XI vs Luxembourg based on my squad was as follows:

With injury drop-outs and players not being selected, I have got this team quite wrong. I think that Conor McLaughlin will replace Smith at right-back, Cathcart replacing McAuley at right centre-back with Dallas replacing Jones at left-wing. I expected Lavery, Sykes, Smyth, McGovern, Thompson and Dallas to make an appearance from the bench. I still expect McGovern, Thompson, Lavery and Sykes make an appearance and with Dallas moved into my starting XI and Smyth not in the squad, I expect Morris and Washington to make an appearance at some stage in the match.

Despite their being 62 places between the sides in the FIFA World Rankings, I expect this to be a tough match. I still expect Northern Ireland to come out on top but not by the score line people think. With a much-changed Northern Ireland side showing the depth in the squad, and an inexperienced Luxembourg side that may make a few changes themselves ahead of their home qualifier against Serbia, Northern Ireland should have the quality to out-do their European counterparts.

I predict that Northern Ireland will win this match 3-0. Giving them a clean sheet, minutes in their legs and a few goals on the board to get the players in the mood for Germany, if they needed any more motivation that is.

My Starting XI vs Luxembourg

Score Prediction: Northern Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg