Italy v Northern Ireland: World Cup play-off ‘an opportunity to write our names into history’ – Michael O’Neill

O’Neill has three wins and a draw in seven matches as Rovers manager and they sit three points outside of the relegation zone with eight games remaining.

Just four points separate Rovers in 19th and Leicester City in 23rd. Tight is an understatement as five teams look to avoid the two remaining relegation spots.

“My objective is to go in and try and take Blackburn to a safer position in the Championship,” he told BBC Sport.

“We’ve managed to do that so far, but it’s very, very tight at that end.”

When asked how preparations would work if Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup and his final game with Blackburn Rovers was on 2 May, O’Neill said his focus was on the immediate future.

He said he can “assure” Northern Ireland fans that “preparations will be as good as they have always been” for the play-offs.

“If we can get through the two games and we’re going to the World Cup then, trust me, we will be ready to go to the World Cup,” he said.

“Let’s deal with what’s at hand, which is definitely important.

“I’ll talk about the reality, which is we come into a World Cup play-off, as tough as we could have got, and we’ve got to do everything to try and win that game.”