After another impressive international showing, the admiration shown towards the Sunderland ace has made it all the way to Italy.
From Belfast to Bergamo.
And if his manager had any concerns over whether the Black Cat could adapt to a new-look system and a new position, he needn’t have lost any sleep.
Because, as Northern Ireland recorded their biggest home win since George Best slammed a hat-trick past Cyprus in 1971, Trai Hume again proved that, no matter the formation, no matter the role, he can be relied upon to produce in that green jersey.
Hume has started every one of Sunderland’s nine Championship games under Regis le Bris as an orthodox right-back in a four-man defence.
The challenge for Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, however, was to find a way to shoehorn both Hume and Liverpool’s Conor Bradley into the same set-up. If Tuesday’s 5-0 obliteration of Bulgaria at Windsor Park is anything to by, the former Stoke City boss appears to have found a solution.
Italian press hail Trai Hume as Sunderland ace shines in Northern Ireland win
Bradley, starting at right-wing back, was freed up to do what he does best; flying down the flanks like an express train and firing in a series of crosses.
Hume, meanwhile, has adapted impressively to a more reserved, right-sided centre-back role in O’Neill’s 3-4-2-1 approach.
“I am delighted with Trai Hume playing in the back three,” O’Neill said post-match, the Ballymena-born 22-year-old joined in defence by another by a man who once called the Stadium of Light home..
“And [I am also delighted with] Paddy McNair because he hasn’t played that much football this season. He played extremely well in both these [UEFA Nations League] games.”
While still only a nipper in international terms, Hume has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheets of both Sunderland and Northern Ireland. He has now started 12 of the last 13 internationals. Hume even captained the Northern Ireland for the first and second time back in September.
And reporters in faraway Italy are taking note.
Marco Palma, via Tuttomercatoweb, drew up a list of young players who impressed him the most during the October international break. And Hume earned a place ahead of Bradley on the right-hand side of Palma’s hypothetical backline.
An XI which also includes Wales’ Jordan James [formerly of Birmingham City and now of Rennes], Troy Parrott [five goals in nine after leaving Tottenham Hotspur for AZ Alkmaar], and Brighton’s Sweden forward Yasin Ayari.
Michael O’Neill explains why Sunderland ace Hume can be captain
Now, Hume did not do anything quite as flashy as Ayari.
The attacker who opened the scoring in that 2-2 draw against Slovakia with an acrobatic volley Sweden icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic would have been proud of.
But it is the consistency and the maturity with which Trai Hume goes about his business that has seen the Sunderland stalwart emerge not only as a regular starter for the Northern Ireland but an option for the captain’s armband too.
“Not many players come out of the Irish League and step into English football and play with that level of consistency,” O’Neill said when handing the former Linfield kid the role of skipper in September; Hume justifying his coach’s faith with a ‘stand-out’ display against Luxembourg while wearing the armband.
“He may not be the captain at Sunderland but he is a leader. I’ve no hesitation in saying he will do a good job.
“Trai’s going to be an important player for me whether he wears the armband or not. He’s already demonstrated that. I’ve no doubt Trai will wear the armband well, but I don’t envisage he will play any differently than he does for his club because he shows all those qualities anyway.”