Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown details Northern Ireland heroics

Brown played all four fixtures for his country during the extended international break and drew praise from all angles for his stellar performances.

The centre back helped Northern Ireland to an unbeaten start to their UEFA Nations League campaign in which they won twice and drew twice, securing clean sheets in all of their games.

The Yellows defender scored an unlikely brace in a brilliant 3-0 win over Ukraine for Michael O’Neill’s men.

A 0-0 draw each with Georgia and Hungary and a win in a second clash with Georgia saw Brown enjoy a brilliant start to Group F with his nation.

Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown (Image: Darrell Fisher)

“It’s, for me, a long time coming to kind of be a consistent part of the team,” the 28-year-old opened up.

“When you’re playing in a team that’s doing so well, there’s obviously always praise.

“I’m obviously buzzing.

“I think it was a great camp for us.

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“I think we’ve got to a point now where our team is, instead of growing into a good team, it’s a good team and it’s continuously growing.

“So it was enjoyable.”

Brown travelled took part in the Northern Ireland camp alongside U’s teammate Brodie Spencer.

“The Ukraine game where we’re 2-0 up and we’re probably looking at each other like, ‘wow, that just happened’,” the defender continued.

Northern Ireland players celebrates after Ciaron Brown, left, scored their side’s bizarre third goal during the Nations League match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland (Image: Denes Erdos/PA Wire)

“I think [Spencer] was obviously buzzing that I scored.

“I think he came up and said to me, ‘if I wasn’t going to score, I’m glad it’s you’.

“Brodie and I are close. We can have a bit of a laugh on the pitch. But it probably only happens when you’re winning.”

After operating in a back three for the Green and White Army, Brown returns to an Oxford side who play quite differently.

No matter the setup, though, the London-born defender is confident he can bring his form back to OX4.

“I think everyone has different ideas,” he continued.

Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown scores a last-minute equaliser on the opening day (Image: Darrell Fisher)

“Northern Ireland play different from how Oxford play.

“But it’s more just trying to bring the form that I probably carried over from Oxford into Northern Ireland, but now bringing it back and just trying to keep that as the baseline and keep my form and keep…playing well.

“You can bring back all the characteristics you need as a player to play for Northern Ireland; it would be more just the tactical side.

“I think there’s two different game plans, one for Oxford and one for Northern Ireland, which is not bad. It’s just different things.

“But as the characteristics as a player, yeah, I could bring stuff back from Northern Ireland and I could bring stuff from Oxford to Northern Ireland.”

The Yellows return to League One action with a trip to newly-promoted Notts County on Saturday.