Former Man United star hails Liverpool starlet on international duty

The 18-year-old impressed for Ian Baraclough's side after they came from behind to beat Kosovo 2-1 on Saturday at Windsor Park.

Advertisement

Evans has heaped praise on Liverpool full-back Bradley, who is currently spending the domestic campaign on-loan at Bolton Wanderers.

"I thought Conor Bradley was superb the other night [against Kosovo], and Shea Charles came in during the summer and that is what we want to see - young lads making an impression and hopefully bring the country forward," he said.

Advertisement

"It is brilliant that the young players have had the experience and game time during the summer, and what they will have learned from that. Some of them have shown real promise," he said.

"It takes me back to coming into the squad myself and how the older players received me. I want to receive the younger players in the same way, we all do."

Evans will captain Northern Ireland when they take on Greece in Athens on Tuesday night.

He is set to earn his 100th cap for his country, the fourth player to do so after Pat Jennings, Aaron Hughes and Steven Davis.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Baraclough also heaped praise on Bradley, who is impressing Jurgen Klopp, after the victory over Kosovo.

"We have new players coming through. I thought Conor Bradley was fantastic at right wing-back and then right-back. He kept going forward," he told Belfast Live.

Bradley's Bolton teammate Dion Charles, who he also plays with at international level, believes the youngster could go onto have a great career in the game.

Advertisement

"I've been winding him up the past few days," Charles joked about Bradley spurning a gilt-edged opportunity when Bolton beat Peterborough United 1-0 last week.

"There was actually another one later on in the game where he has mis-hit it and said to me, 'I'll have to cut you a bit of slack, it's harder than it looks'.

"He has been great for us. He has been scoring goals and playing well.

Advertisement

"It's great to build relationships with players [at club level]. Things become second nature.

"You know the movements they make and where they want the ball, so me and Conor have quite a good relationship."