The recent decline in Scottish football and a corresponding increase in standards across the Irish Sea, though, have given a few Northern Irishmen the opportunity to flourish at both Rangers and Celtic, and there could be as many as five involved when the sides meet at Celtic Park this Sunday for the second Glasgow derby of the season.
Rangers will likely have Steven Davis and Kyle Lafferty in their starting line-up, with Andrew Little on the bench. While the Ibrox club paid sizeable sums to attract Davis and Lafferty from England, Celtic plundered their two Northern Irish imports from Derry City for relatively small fees.
Paddy McCourt remains something of a frustrating phenomenon. When fit, he is capable of moments of magic, as his solo goals against Falkirk and St Mirren proved, although getting him out of the treatment room has proven to be an ongoing problem.
Then there is Niall McGinn. The winger has made only three starts since Gordon Strachan signed him from Derry City at the start of 2009 but his impact from the bench in recent times has prompted many to suggest the 22 year-old could be ready to become a regular fixture in the starting line-up.
His stunning strike on Saturday, which finally killed off Hamilton’s staunch resistance, has further substantiated that claim. With Aiden McGeady a certain starter on one flank, competition for the other wide midfield role comes from McCourt and Barry Robson, the latter starting against Hamilton at the weekend.
McGinn has also forced his way into the international set-up in 2009, starting Northern Ireland’s last two matches against the Czech Republic and Serbia. Gerry Armstrong, a former Nothern Ireland internationalist and assistant manager now working as a media pundit, believes McGinn has the ability to be a match-winner on Sunday.
“I think Niall’s presence could be the difference,” Armstrong told the Herald. “He’s got pace, he’s skilful, got two great feet, and, as we saw at the weekend, has a decent shot on him, too.
“It was a big move for him leaving Derry in the League of Ireland to go to Celtic but it’s been almost a year now so he’ll probably be looking to try to be a bit more involved and feature in more of the games. But it’s still the early stages of his career and he’s got so much potential. I feel he’s really got a fantastic future ahead of him as he keeps getting better and better.”
McGinn’s starring role against Serbia did not go unnoticed. Radomir Antic, the former Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletic Madrid manager now in charge of the Serbian national team, is a close friend of Armstrong and was quick to seek him out for more information on the flying winger who had given Aleksandar Kolarov, the Serbian full-back on the books of Lazio, such a torrid time.
“People have been asking about Niall, most notably Radomir Antic, the Serbia manager,” Armstrong added. “He spoke to me about him after the game with Northern Ireland and was really singing Niall’s praises. He had never heard of him before but sure knew about him after that match.
“I was commentating on that game for the television and Niall really gave their full-back a roasting, not bad when you consider the boy he was up against plays for Lazio. Niall really took him to the cleaners. He’s been the outstanding player for the international team in the last few matches.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with a move for McGinn when the transfer window opens next week and Armstrong is not surprised that the 22 year-old is in demand.
“I know there have been people in Spain talking about him and clubs over there are keeping an eye on his progress. And I think he could play in the Premier League no problem. Anyone with that pace who can go past international defenders should be able to make a success of it in England. I have no doubt about that.”
With so much Northern Irish involvement, Armstrong will follow Sunday’s Old Firm match with great interest. “It will be a cracking game, I expect. Rangers are flying but Celtic are at home so it will come down to who’s on fire on the day.
“Guys like Kyle Lafferty and Steven Davis know all about this fixture now but it could be Niall’s first chance to play in an Old Firm game. I think he will do just fine. In fact, his presence could be the difference between the sides.”
