NI’s latest debutant Kelly ‘itching’ for more caps

Patrick Kelly claims to be “delighted” but “itching” for more caps despite making his Northern Ireland debut.

The 21-year-old Barnsley midfielder made a late substitution for the team’s 1-0 victory over Luxembourg, which brought their World Cup qualifying Group A campaign to a close for manager Michael O’Neill.

Kelly completed her college education at Coleraine, where she eventually moved to West Ham as a teenager in 2022.

He signed for League One side Barnsley in the summer on a permanent deal after spending time on loan at Doncaster Rovers.

Kelly described his Northern Ireland debut as “something I’ve been working toward for ages.”

“It’s really exciting and proud to make my debut,” I said.

Kelly stated that moving to Yorkshire with Barnsley has “worked out for me so far” and that he had spoken to O’Neill about the possibility of leaving West Ham.

Important midfielders Shea Charles and Ali McCann were both injured, and Ethan Galbraith and George Saville both received game suspensions.

Although Northern Ireland’s final qualifying match in Belfast ended in a dead rubber, they now have the play-offs to look forward to in March.

I had a year left to play for West Ham [under his contract], and I only had one good loan, so I was probably going to go back to Doncaster, the same team I was previously with.

I asked him for a little advice after we had a conversation because I had several offers to become permanent.

I just thought being a permanent player would be better because I believe you feel more valued and likely to contribute a little more to the club.

O’Neill stated in his post-game press conference that Kelly’s decision to join the Tykes was the “right decision.”

He questioned my thoughts during the summer when he spoke to me. He said, “I thought it was the right thing for him to leave and go to Barnsley.”

“And that’s not the reason he’s in the squad; rather, because he’s made a lasting impression there.”

Conor Hourihane, the manager of Barnsley, praised how well he’s changed to the team, and they obviously want to face off with a promotion challenge.

He simply needs to keep playing, and if he does that, he must be knocking on the squad’s door.

Kelly now wants to make his first senior appearance before the March World Cup play-off in Northern Ireland.

In Thursday’s draw, they will find out who they are, but they are aware that they will face a pot-one team in the semi-final.

Kelly continued, “I’m itching for it, and it’d be the biggest came of my career.”