If Shea Charles is feeling a weight of expectation from being the most expensive Northern Ireland footballer ever his demeanour does not betray it.
Interviewed by BBC Sport NI before the forthcoming four-game Nations League bonanza, the Fulham midfielder cuts a laid-back but determined figure who is keen to play a key part in helping a young Northern Ireland side continue to build on recent progress.
Charles’ record-breaking £30m move from Championship side Southampton to the Cottagers in the summer gave him the opportunity to move up a division and ply his trade in the Premier League.
He describes becoming NI’s most expensive footballer as “quite crazy”.
“I think I was like second or third before that. But to be number one, it’s really cool. Just to be in the Premier League and just being able to play my football is amazing,” he told BBC Sport NI’s Stephen Watson.
“For me, I don’t really think about it [the price tag] too much, and you see what a lot of people are going for these days, it’s kind of crazy.
“I’ve just got really good people around me, living with my younger brother and my older brother, mum and dad. I’ve got a really good friendship group that keep me grounded.”
International football, rather than the club game, will occupy the 22-year-old’s attention over the coming weeks as Michael O’Neill’s side face Georgia home and away, Hungary and Ukraine over the coming weeks.
Already capped 35 times since making his debut in June 2022, Charles emphasises the influence international football has had on advancing his career prospects and improving his game.
“International football has always been massive for me ever since I made my debut – the types of players you play against, the teams you are playing, you rarely got to play against them when you’re playing in the Championship.
“Being able to show your level against those kind of players was always going to help.
“I feel like he [O’Neill] has really trusted me from the moment that I came in, starting me in any game that he could really, and I’m obviously very thankful for that.
“I feel like Michael has given me a bit of responsibility, especially taking the armband a couple of times, so I just try to set an example, whether that’s on the pitch or off the pitch, and just be someone the young lads can look up to.”
Premier League return was the aim
Charles has played a part in all five of Fulham’s Premier League matches this season, starting in three of those, including draws against Liverpool and Manchester United in recent weeks.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side sit 19th in the table, with two draws and three defeats to date.
“Whether it was with Southampton or by getting a move the aim was always to get back to the Premier League.
“It’s really exciting and I’ve settled in really well. It’s a really good club and when I spoke to the manager we saw football in the same way.
“Against Man United it was a really good game and I thought we were unlucky not to win the game. To play in a game like that so early after my move was really good.”
His brother, goalkeeper Pierce, currently on loan at Queen’s Park Rangers from Manchester City after a summer switch, is also an integral part of the Northern Ireland squad.
“It’s kind of the stuff of dreams to play with your brother on the international stage. When you’re playing teams like France and Italy and he’s playing alongside you it’s really cool.
“We’re really close, we played football together when we were younger, we’ve always been best mates.”
‘I can tell how proud mum is’
English-born Charles qualifies to play for Northern Ireland through his mother, who follows the careers of her sons avidly.
“She is dead proud, you can see on her face when you see her in the crowd at Windsor Park in particular.
“I can tell how proud she is of us and for us both to be playing together is just incredible.
“I can’t remember the last one she has missed at Windsor Park. She is there all the time. She was in Italy and she tries to get to as many away games as possible.
“I told her that when I was younger [that I would play for Northern Ireland], me and Pierce, and I’ve definitely followed through with that promise.”
Charles feels the “potential is definitely there” for the squad “to prove how good we are”.
“It’s a really tight-knit group, everyone gets along. Whenever any new boys come in I always feel like they fit in so well.
“When you get the likes of Ceadach [O’Neill] and Braiden [Graham] coming in you begin to feel that little bit older. It’s a really good group.”
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