O'Neill expects 'challenging game' against Romania

Michael O'Neill trained with his squad in Manchester before travelling to Bucharest

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill says his side are expecting a "challenging game" against Euro 2024 finalists Romania in Bucharest.

Defender Jonny Evans misses the double-header while Dan Ballard, Jamal Lewis and Ross McCausland have been ruled out of the meeting with the Romanians.

Ballard, Lewis and McCausland could return for the game at Hampden Park.

Sunderland central defender Ballard has not travelled to Romania because his partner is giving birth to their child.

Northern Ireland had a disappointing European Championship qualifying campaign as they finished fifth in Group H with their only wins coming home and away against San Marino, and then home to Denmark in their concluding fixture.

In contrast, Romania topped Group I after winning six and drawing four of their 10 matches to progress to this summer's finals.

Edward Iordănescu's side sit 45th in the Fifa rankings, with Northern Ireland 30 places below their opponents on Friday night.

• Denmark win boosted NI confidence - Charles
• NI's Bradley embracing 'whirlwind' Liverpool season
• Romania and Scotland the bar we have to get to for qualification'

"I don't know what the anticipated attendance is here tomorrow but we are playing a team that were unbeaten in their European qualification. They finished top of the group and above Switzerland," reflected O'Neill.

"You would expect that Romanian football, at a national team level, is in a good place at this moment in time. This will be a challenging atmosphere for us.

"It will be a challenging game because of the quality of the opposition but that's the experiences that these players need to have."

The games in this international window in Bucharest and Edinburgh are expected to be followed by two further friendly matches in June against yet to be confirmed opposition.

"Every game is valuable. You don't get the players very often so every opportunity you get to work with the players is essential," the NI boss told BBC Sport NI.

"You have three or four days lead in, at the stage of the season where players have played a lot of football and there is a lot of stake at their clubs.

"March is probably the most difficult international window if you aren't playing competitive games, which these aren't, obviously.

"No one else is, other than the play-offs. It's just about trying to add another level of preparation onto this squad.

"We have had to call some players up, and we are hoping that some of the players who won't be available for the game on Friday night will add and give us a little bit more experience for the game on Tuesday."

Trai Hume helped NI to a 2-0 win over Denmark at Windsor Park in November

Sunderland defender Trai Hume said that "two good results" against Romania and Scotland would give Northern Ireland "something to build on" after ending their Euro campaign with a morale-boosting 2-0 win over the Danes in Belfast in November.

"We have a lot of young players who are are improving game-by-game at our clubs and we're trying to gain more international experience but you have to play to do that and continue to get better," said Hume.

"The goal for everyone in the squad is to get to a World Cup or Euros. That's what everyone wants to do and obviously the memories you would make would be fantastic."