Northern Ireland Helped Hume Adapt To Top Flight

Fifa World Cup qualifier: Luxembourg v Northern Ireland

Venue: Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg Date: Thursday, 4 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Watch unrecorded connected BBC One NI, BBC Three, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

Sunderland defender Trai Hume says playing world shot for Northern Ireland helped him accommodate to nan Premier League.

Hume joined Sunderland from Irish Premiership broadside Linfield successful January 2022 erstwhile nan nine were successful League One and has helped guideline nan nine backmost to nan apical flight.

He made his Northern Ireland debut 2 months aft moving to England, and will skipper Michael O'Neill's broadside successful their opening World Cup qualifiers successful Luxembourg and Germany.

"It astir apt has helped maine successful a measurement to get utilized to nan apical players, that apical level and really concentrated you person to beryllium successful nan crippled for nan full 90 minutes," said Hume, 23, who has played successful each 3 of Sunderland's opening Premier League matches this season.

"I've ever said I wanted to trial myself astatine nan highest level truthful getting nan chance to do that this play is simply a dream travel true.

"Hopefully I'll conscionable support playing games and support being capable to do that."

After he helped Sunderland triumph promotion to nan Premier League done nan play-offs, Hume had been linked pinch a move distant from nan Stadium of Light but he signed a caller semipermanent statement successful August.

Hume said he was alert of liking from clubs successful England and Europe but it was "always connected my mind" to work together a caller deal.

"Ever since I signed for nan nine successful League One I've loved each 2nd of it," said nan erstwhile Linfield defender.

"It does consciousness that wee spot amended that you've helped Sunderland from wherever they were successful League One, nan full measurement up to wherever we belong.

"Obviously you tin motion for a Premier League nine and it's still nan aforesaid thing, you're still getting to play successful nan Premier League, but it does bring that other spot of emotion into it that you've done it nan full measurement through.

"Our scheme this play is to enactment location and support pushing on."

Northern Ireland commencement their World Cup qualifying run successful Luxembourg connected Thursday and look Germany successful Cologne connected Sunday.

Manager Michael O'Neill rotated nan captain's armband done nan Nations League run past twelvemonth and successful nan friendlies to commencement 2025, and has handed Hume nan armband for September's double-header.

"I'm really proud and happy to do it, but I've ever said that erstwhile I deterioration nan armband it doesn't really alteration overmuch for me," said Hume.

"I'll evidently effort my champion to do nan occupation astatine manus and thief my team-mates."

Northern Ireland faced Luxembourg successful nan Nations League run past twelvemonth and, aft going 2 goals up successful November, were pegged backmost to a tie - which was still capable to gain promotion from League C.

Hume says caller acquisition shows it will beryllium "be a reliable game", contempt nan hosts being nan lowest classed broadside successful Group A, which besides contains Slovakia.

"We've played them doubly very precocious successful nan Nations League and we cognize it won't beryllium an easy game.

"We drew 2-2 successful our past crippled here, truthful it's 1 we are afloat focused connected and prepared for."