Northern Ireland are entering a new era with their goalkeepers, with Leeds’ Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Celtic’s Conor Hazard looking set to battle for the number one shirt for many years.
The former is 22, while the latter is 20, so this could well be a competition that lasts over a decade. Both came through their club’s academy, so this is less about each player’s transfer, rather their ability and potential.
With that in mind, let’s compare these two transfers…
Bailey Peacock-Farrell
This has been a breakthrough season for Leeds’ Peacock-Farrell. The 6ft 4 ‘keeper has convincingly beaten Chelsea loan Jamaal Blackman to become first choice under Marcello Bielsa for The Whites, and has been national coach Michael O’Neil’s first choice in recent fixtures too.
Winner of Leeds’ Young Player of the Year award last season, he has gone from strength to strength this term, as he has looked more and more composed with every game that has passed.
With Leeds’ continued success, there’s nothing to say that Peacock-Farrell will not be an accomplished ‘keeper in the Premier League, should his team make it. Being signed by Leeds as a teenager, this was a very wise choice.
TT Grade: A
Conor Hazard
For Hazard at Celtic, it is a game of patience at the moment. Under Brendan Rodgers, he is certainly not first choice; in all likelihood, he is probably third or fourth choice. But with incumbent goalkeeper Craig Gordon now 35 years old, his chance may come soon. Then again, he will still need to battle with Dorus de Vries and Scott Bain to start.
It is much the same for Northern Ireland. He was given his first cap by O’Neil this season against Costa Rica from the bench, but it is still a case of him fighting for a place.
At such a young age, Hazard definitely has a bright future, but it’s not clear where yet.
TT Grade: B-
TT Verdict:
Although Peacock-Farrell is two years the elder of Hazard, it seems like it will take a long time for the Celtic ‘keeper to usurp him. Not only is he an established player now in the Championship with Leeds, but it looks as though he has his hands on the Northern Ireland shirt for the foreseeable future.
Hazard may need to wait a while to become the first choice at Celtic, and by then Peacock-Farrell may have secured himself as Northern Ireland’s main man. It is for that reason the Leeds man wins this battle.
