Northern Ireland in 'good shape' for Ukraine game

Northern Ireland are joint-top of League B2 with Ukraine after the opening two matches [Getty Images] Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill says his side are in "good shape" ahead of their Nations League match against Ukraine in Slovakia. O'Neill's side beat Georgia 1-0 in their opening match thanks to Shea Charles' last-gasp winner, and held Hungary to a goalless draw in Belfast on Monday. Despite looking tired in the closing stages of Monday's draw, which came after a 5000-mile round trip to Tbilisi, O'Neill said that his squad was healthy and ready to go for the third game of the quadruple-header. "We're pleased with where we're at this minute in time. The boys have done extremely well in the games," he said. "They've recovered extremely well, which is a bonus. "I think younger players obviously recover a little bit quicker than older players as well, so we're in good shape to play again." O'Neill conceded that Ukraine, who won 1-0 in Hungary before a goalless draw with Georgia, are favourites to win on Friday but added his side "thrive" on the underdog tag. "I think they are favourites. They're the home team, although obviously the game is not being played in Ukraine. They have a very good team. "I think they are a team that is probably a little bit further ahead in its development than we are. But we're comfortable with not being favourites in the game." Inside Northern Ireland's football conveyor belt Can you name NI team against Ukraine at Euro 2016? Yellow cards won't impact selection Jamie Donley is one of six players at risk of suspension if they pick up a yellow card against Ukraine [Getty Images] Striker Jamie Donley is one of six players at risk of suspension if they collect a second yellow card in the competition. Justin Devenny, Ciaron Brown and the now-injured Dan Ballard were booked in the opening win in Georgia, while Ethan Galbraith, Isaac Price, Donley and Shea Charles were cautioned in Monday's goalless draw with Hungary. Donley was booked for catching Mark Csinger with a stray arm but, despite the threat of a game on the sidelines should he pick up a second booking in the campaign, he doesn't believe it will change how he approaches the game. "I will still try and play my same game style," the 21-year-old said. "I will probably try and be a bit more cautious, but it's not something that I'll be thinking about." O'Neill said he was "disappointed" with some of the bookings his players had picked up, but that it would not impact his team selection for the third game of the quadruple-header. "I don't worry about it because what will happen will happen," O'Neill said. "It's not like we're in a World Cup play-off and someone's on a booking and could miss the second leg, or whatever way you want to look at the scenarios. "Here, I'll ask the players to just play their normal game."