Steven Davis: Former Northern Ireland captain part of backroom team for Romania and Scotland games

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has added former captain Steven Davis to his backroom team for the upcoming friendlies against Romania and Scotland.

The former Rangers midfielder holds the UK men’s international caps record with 140 appearances.

O’Neill says NI will “evaluate” Davis’ role going forward.

“A lot of things will depend on the longer term really on what Steven’s next role in football is,” O’Neill, who named his squad on Thursday, told BBC Sport NI.

“Some clubs allow their staff members to go away on international duty and some aren’t as accommodating as that.”

O’Neill added: “In the current situation where Steven is not tied to any club, it’s great to have him involved. Hopefully the younger players will see that, the experiences Steven has had at club and international level will prove invaluable.

“We have 11 or 12 players in this squad who have either not been capped or are in single figures in caps so they’re young in terms of international football. With the career Steven’s had, there’s a lot of experience he can give to the players.”

‘He has the appetite already’

Davis captained Northern Ireland 82 times and skippered the side to the Euro 2016 knockout stages during O’Neill’s first spell in charge.

The former Aston Villa, Fulham and Southampton midfielder was in his second stint with Rangers when he suffered a career-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in December 2022.

“It was really sad for Steven for his career to finish the way it did,” added O’Neill.

“You always hope you’ll get one final game and get the adulation I felt a player that’s had the career that Steven has had deserved.

“He didn’t have it at Rangers. I know he was presented to the fans on the pitch last week which was nice and we’ll probably do something similar the next time we’re in Belfast.”

Davis had a brief spell as interim Rangers boss following Michael Beale’s dismissal in October and O’Neill says he can already see his former captain’s “appetite” ahead of a possible career in coaching.

“He has an appetite for the game already, I’ve seen that in the conversations we’ve had. He’s been going to games and this allows him to look at the next phase of his career without the intensity of club football.

“Anyone with 140 caps has a lot to offer.”

Northern Ireland face Romania in Bucharest on 22 March before travelling to Hampden Park to take on Scotland four days later, with the latter match to be broadcast on BBC Two Northern Ireland and the BBC iPlayer.