Northern Ireland: George Best, Norman Whiteside… Isaac Price?

The game against Iceland was the side’s last before their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign begins in September with an away double-header against Luxembourg and Germany.

By the time those fixtures roll around, it will be almost two years since their last qualifier. If Liverpool’s Conor Bradley has emerged as the side’s talisman in that period, then Price has filled a role which has posed a problem for even longer – that of a regular goalscorer.

He remains some way off David Healy’s 36 scored for the side between 2000 and 2013, but when the former Leeds United and Preston North End striker came on the scene the record stood at just 13.

While Kyle Lafferty later hit 20 in 89 caps, with his goals proving crucial in guiding the side to Euro 2016 qualification, the search for a successor has been difficult.

Indeed, before Price’s run of seven goals in his past seven caps, it had not been uncommon for defender Paddy McNair to be the most prolific member of Michael O’Neill’s starting side during the manager’s second stint in charge.

That such a void has been filled by a player who is not striker at all, and rarely scores at club level, feels all the more noteworthy.

He scored once for West Brom after his January move from Standard Liege, the same tally he managed in two seasons spent in Belgium’s top flight.

While calling his move abroad from Everton in 2023 the “best decision” he could have made for his football, Price noted it had been “challenging to settle” in a new country, something that conversely made Northern Ireland feel all the more “like home” when the England-born player came away on international duty.

So, too, did the confidence of his manager.

O’Neill acknowledged only this week that he likely still did not know Price’s best position, but internationally he has settled into playing off the left of midfield, inside a wing-back and behind a central striker.

At club level, he often holds a more orthodox midfield position and has even turned out at right-back, although he noted he still works on his finishing “every day”.

“I think Michael said that from day one since coming here, he’ s seen me as a player that’s a goal threat,” said Price, who made his international debut in March 2023 while still playing for Everton Under-23s.