'Continuously improving' - NI future excites Brown

Centre-back Ciaron Brown believes "everyone wants to be involved now more than ever" in the Northern Ireland set up ahead of their Nations League campaign. Following their promotion in the Nations League, Northern Ireland step up to League B and open their campaign with an away trip to Georgia on Friday. "From when I first started to now, the squad has changed massively," Brown, who has 30 caps, told BBC Sport NI. "There are probably just a few familiar faces from that time to now and to see the change in the average age and see them progress from when they first came in to now, our group is just continuously improving. "Everyone wants to be involved now more than ever with the fact of where we are as a team and how much we are growing. Everyone wants to be part of something special and with how we are growing, we just have to take it step by step." As well as balancing a tougher group this Nations League, Northern Ireland must also navigate a new format with this international window now extended to four games over 11 days. It means recovery time will be limited for the young squad, but Brown added that it is an opportunity to build momentum. "If we get off to a good start, we will want the games to keep on rolling so that is what we are hoping for in that sense," added the 30-year-old Oxford United defender. "To be honest everyone gets on with each other, and we have a really good group, I thoroughly enjoy coming away with everyone and spending time together. "In international football, you don't get that much time to spend with each other so it is nice to have a big, solid time with the boys."