Northern Ireland boss shares improvements he has spotted in Sheffield Wednesday loanee Kieran Morrison
Sheffield Wednesday loanee Kieran Morrison featured in two of Northern Ireland’s four UEFA Nations League fixtures during the international break.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill believes he has seen improvements in winger Kieran Morrison since he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan during the summer transfer window.
Wednesday swooped for the Liverpool winger in August, signing him on a season-long loan to strengthen their attacking options. He has made a positive start to life at Hillsborough, registering two assists in his first seven appearances for the Owls.
His positive early-season form was enough to earn him another call-up to the Northern Ireland squad for the first international window of the campaign, and he made his competitive debut for his country in their 3-0 win over Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League in Slovakia last Friday night. Morrison marked the occasion with an assist, sending over a peach of a cross that was headed home by Isaac Price.
Morrison earned his third cap for his country on Monday night, being introduced as a second-half substitute as O’Neill’s side drew 0-0 with Georgia in their final outing of this international window at Windsor Park to maintain their unbeaten record in this Nations League campaign.
Speaking ahead of the stalemate with Georgia, who earned themselves a point after goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved a late penalty from Price, boss O’Neill admitted that he has seen an improvement in Morrison’s maturity levels since temporarily swapping Anfield for Hillsborough less than two months ago.
"Kieran's out playing first team football so that's a big thing,” O’Neill said, as quoted by Belfast News Letter. “He played some first team football last year at Liverpool, made a breakthrough, got a few appearances and was on the bench.
"Kieran is the one that's out there and playing at Sheffield Wednesday. I think we've seen a change even in the six weeks that he's been there in terms of his maturity, how he is and he looks more than capable of dealing with a game at that level.
"I think there is different reasons why you would and wouldn't play a young player but the circumstances, the game...everything plays into that.”
Morrison, who will be hoping to win his place back in the Owls’ starting line-up when they head to Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon, stored 93 minutes worth of football under his belt for Northern Ireland during the break.