NI players relish Windsor return against Hungary

For the first time in 315 days, Northern Ireland are back in Belfast.

Michael O'Neill's side welcome Hungary to Windsor Park for a Nations League Group B2 contest on Monday night, just 51 days shy of a year since a Jamie Donley penalty saw the side to a 1-0 win over Luxembourg in their previous home fixture.

In the interim, they have played five times on their travels, a run that began with World Cup play-off defeat by Italy in Bergamo in March and concluded with victory over Georgia on Friday night.

If that win in Tbilisi represented a something of a breakthrough in terms of away performances - they had won just two of their previous 12 competitive away games - form back at Windsor has been strong despite the sporadic fixtures.

Since losing to Slovenia in October 2023, only Germany have left Belfast with a win and that a 1-0 triumph on a night the hosts missed numerous good chances.

A run of seven wins in nine home games is in stark contrast to what went before when, in the preceding nine at Windsor Park, Northern Ireland had beaten only San Marino and Kosovo, the latter courtesy of a 94th-minute winner.

O'Neill said he does not put much stock in such runs of form given the changing squads in international football, but acknowledged his team are in "a really good phase" at Windsor Park.

"This is a new team, so they're not saddled by the performance of previous teams," he said.

"They love playing here at the stadium. You know there was a period where the team of 2016 [who qualified for the European Championships of that year] didn't enjoy playing at home.

"Then suddenly they started to win games and they loved playing at home. Teams go through phases and at this moment in time this team is in a really good phase in terms of the home form."

"I'm buzzing for it," said midfielder Patrick Kelly who has picked up four of his five caps on the road.

"Obviously, I made my debut there last year in November time and I haven't played there since, it's all been away games.

"We haven't been there in a while and I'm really looking forward to it."

For goalkeeper Pierce Charles, who saved a penalty from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia against Georgia, the wait to play again at Windsor has been even longer.

"Personally, I've not played there in over a year now and I can't wait to feel the place rocking. I just can't wait to see the fans and hear how loud it's going to be," said the 22-year-old whose last game in Belfast was June 2025 thanks to injury.

"I think we thrive off it. It just makes us excited, playing in front of a positive crowd, especially when we're doing well.

"They love to get behind us, which we all love, so it just drives us on to do better."