Nobody wants to play football behind closed doors - Marshall

Northern Ireland striker Callum Marshall says he expects Saturday's Nations League game with Belarus to "be like Covid again".

The game will be played in western Hungary and behind closed doors because of current Uefa restrictions on Belarus.

The 19-year-old, who is on loan at Huddersfield Town from West Ham, says it is far from ideal playing without supporters.

"Nobody wants to play behind closed doors as a footballer, especially when you have fans like Northern Ireland," Marshall told BBC Sport NI.

"Everyone wants to see the away fans and hear them."

Northern Ireland defeated Luxembourg in their Nations League opener in Belfast but lost their last match away to Bulgaria.

Michael O'Neill's side travel to Zalaegerszeg to face Belarus, who drew with Bulgaria and defeated Luxembourg in their opening matches.

"It's out of our hands," Marshall added on the game being played behind closed doors.

"Both teams will be playing away from home, so we can't use that as an excuse.

"It will be like Covid again with no atmosphere. It'll be harder to get up for the occasion, but I'm sure we will."

Marshall joined West Ham from Irish Premiership side Linfield as a 17-year-old in 2022 and is currently on loan at Huddersfield.

He had a short stint on loan at West Brom last season, in which he only played three matches, and now hopes that he can kick on as he looks at a long-term future with West Ham.

"It's great playing League One football and coming up against men every week. It's good for me," said Marshall, who has won six Northern Ireland caps.

"It didn't really work out for me on my last loan, but I knew I had to get back out on loan to try and prove that I am the player that the boys at West Ham think I am."

Marshall has scored two goals this season for Huddersfield, who sit ninth in League One after five matches.

"I'm trying to prove, first of all because I'm young, that I can handle playing against men," he said.

"And second of all, trying to get goals. The whole way through my career so far I've proven I can score goals.

"I've scored a couple for Huddersfield. I've been playing decently but the goals haven't' really been falling. Hopefully I can get that under way soon."