Michael O'Neill believes he is a better manager now compared to his first spell as Northern Ireland boss, but accepts that judgement will fall on other people to determine.
The 53-year-old will kick off his second reign at the end of March with back-to-back European qualifiers against San Marino and Finland.
O'Neill is back following a three-year spell with Stoke City in the Championship, an experience he believes has moulded him into a more rounded football manager.
Read more: 5 talking points from Michael O'Neill's NI squad announcement
The former midfielder will have to use all his tactical nous and experience to mastermind two big performances later this month, with several key personnel missing from his 26-man squad.
Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans and Ali McCann are all out through injury, while Jonny Evans faces a race against time to be fit for the opening game in San Marino on March 23.
O'Neill insists preparations will have to be "100 per cent right" if they are to kick off the new campaign in positive fashion.
“You evolve as a manager, that’s natural. I’m a different manager than I was when I left here three and a half years ago, that’s only natural," he said.
"I think I am a better manager, but you will obviously have an opinion on that down the line whether I am or not.
"You look at how you prepare the team. I have developed slightly different ways of working from the first-time round. If I didn’t, I would be at risk of being labelled a dinosaur which I don’t want to be.
“I think there’s a constant evolution as a coach in how you present information and analysis to players, how you work on the pitch with them, all of those things. We have to go in and play an international game with three days of preparation and that’s a challenge, particularly as several players haven’t played under me before.
“We can’t afford not to get things right; our preparations need to be 100 per cent right and we have appointed Matthew Crawford as a performance analyst to work with the squad as well.
“We have added different things that I believe will equip us well for the campaign ahead.”
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- 5 talking points from Michael O'Neill's NI squad announcement
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