Sunderland defender Trai Hume is ready for another tough shift at left-wing back for Northern Ireland when the take on Kazakhstan at Windsor Park on Monday night.
The Black Cats star was used in a more attacking role as Michael O'Neil's side lost 1-0 to Denmark on Friday night, with the Irish denied a late equaliser due to VAR. Hume's family will be in attendance on Monday night, and he can't wait to pull on the green shirt in front of the home fans.
“I’d be over the moon. My family will be there and it would be a proud moment for them to see me start my first game at Windsor. Hopefully I can do that, because it would be a proud day,” Hume told the Belfast Telegraph.
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“If we can get three points against Kazakhstan that would put us on six and the way the group is at the minute that will probably put us in the top three, so that’s the plan. We want to get as many wins and results as we can. We will have confidence that we can go and win the game.”
Left wing back isn't a new role for the 21-year-old, but it was big test of his fitness after a long season for Sunderland.
“I played there with the Under-21s before in one game against Spain but that was it," he added. “It was tough, they have good players coming at you all the time and obviously when you’re sitting in it's a tough shift and at left-back you have to be up and down, and up and down but I enjoyed it. I’m trying my best to get into the team and if I have to play there, I’m happy to do it.”
Callum Marshall’s injury time goal in Denmark was ruled out on Friday night, cutting short celebrations which Hume was at the very heart of.
“It was a tough one to take,” Hume added “I was overjoyed when Callum scored. I’ve gone into the crowd and tried to pull him down from the stand.
“Obviously he’s loving it, he’s a young boy making his debut and he’s scored but when the VAR check was going on for such a long time you think it must be tight. They were obviously looking for something and when it goes on that long it’s not good. We were just standing there for what felt like forever.
“Denmark are a great side and we were proud of our performance. We gave them a good game and we almost got a point away from home which would have been great, but VAR ruled that out.”
