Bradford’s Rory McArdle added to injury-hit Northern Ireland squad

Dallas and his teammates look well set to securing qualification with Northern Ireland, and if such an aim is achieved during this global break, Dallas will return to Elland Road next week in flying spirits.

In the first half in particular the ex-Crusaders hero was in superb form, getting the Northern Ireland fans off their seats with a series of thrilling forays into opposition territory.

They host Greece at Windsor Park on Thursday before completing their campaign against Finland on Sunday.

Northern Ireland now sit top of their qualifying group, with 17 points placing them one point ahead of Romania. “Tomorrow and Wednesday we will start to focus on team preparation”.

Hungary provide the chief threat to Northern Ireland’s Euro ambitions – they sit third in the group and need two victories from their final two games to stand any chance of snatching an automatic qualifying spot.

“We would have settled for this scenario before the campaign”, said Dallas.

“There is a real togetherness amongst all the players and we know that everyone is important”.

Striking talisman Kyle Lafferty is suspended, along with midfielder Chris Baird and defender Conor McLaughlin.

The winger, signed by Leeds from Brentford for £1.3m in the summer, added: “We have players suspended but the confidence and belief is there that we can put in a big performance”.

“It has not just been about the players who start the match”.

“It’s not always about the starting XI, it’s about the squad”.