Tough lesson for Walsall's Will Grigg

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill today insisted Will Grigg must not be haunted by his Dutch demolition – after handing the Walsall ace his international debut.

The 20-year-old started the 6-0 mauling in Holland on Saturday to become the Saddlers' first senior international for two years.

O'Neill gave bows to Grigg, Coventry's James McPake and Burnley's Daniel Lafferty as he tested them ahead of their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

And O'Neill expects Grigg, who started as the lone forward, to grow from the Amsterdam annihilation.

"If you're scarred for the future by something like that then you're not cut out for international football," he said.

"It was a tough lesson at times but any experiences you have in football tend to make you stronger and I hope we learn something.

"It has to make you tougher, it has to make you able to deal with it. That's part of football. Whether you're a player or a manager you have to deal with that disappointment."

Albion's Gareth McAuley and Chris Brunt were both unavailable and O'Neill added: "In friendly internationals the results are always secondary, really. It's more about preparation and what you get out of that."