Italy vs Northern Ireland: World Cup qualifiers ‘an opportunity to write our names in history’ – Michael O’Neill

O’Neill has three wins and a draw in seven games as Rovers manager and they sit three points outside the Championship relegation zone with eight games remaining.

Only four points separate Rovers, ranked nineteenth, from Leicester City, ranked twenty-third. Tight is an understatement with five teams looking to avoid the remaining two relegation spots.

“My aim is to come in and try to move Blackburn to a safer position in the Championship,” he told BBC Sport.

“We’ve been successful in doing that so far, but it’s very difficult at this end.”

When asked how he would prepare if Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup and his final match was with Blackburn Rovers on May 2, O’Neill said his focus was on the immediate future.

He added that he could “reassure” Northern Ireland fans that “preparations will be as good as ever” for the play-offs.

He said: “If we can pass the two matches and qualify for the World Cup, trust me, we will be ready to go to the World Cup.”

“Let’s deal with what is at hand, which is certainly important.

“I will talk about the reality, which is that we have reached the World Cup playoff, as strong as possible, and we have to do everything to try to win that match.”