Ian Baraclaw has compared Buddy Lane to youngster Stewart Dallas, and he hopes the rising Northern Ireland player will follow in the Leeds United’s footsteps in English football.
Lynn was one of two potential youngsters with Sunderland’s Trae Hume, who won his first match on Tuesday night in a friendly against Hungary 1-0 in Belfast.
The talented 21-year-old, who made his debut for Fleetwood Town in September, started as a left-back and his clear performances impressed Baraclaw.
The Northern Ireland coach also called up one of his biggest stars: the Leeds Dallas midfielder, who left the Crusader side at Brentford in 2012.
Dallas, now 30, moved to Elland Road in 2015 and helped the Yorkshire club rise to the top of the Premier League for the first time in 16 years in 2020.
“I see a lot of what we saw in Stuart Dallas as Stuart left the Crusaders for Brentford,” Barclay said.
“Let’s hope he doesn’t put too much weight on his shoulders, but he’s the same type of build and has great sportsmanship.
He plays ball well, he showed a good calm with his head and personality to go and play as he did.
Lynn, who played on loan from Farsley Celtic just 12 months ago in the English Premier League, could also play for Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
But Baraclaw decided to hire a versatile midfielder who joined Fleetwood from Hyde United last summer on a two-year contract with Army Green & White.
Several phone calls, including a chat with Lynn’s father while the national manager was “on vacation in Dover,” facilitated the deal.
He said: “Badi could have played for Wales and the Republic but we have already spoken to him and that is a sign that we are trying to get things done in terms of eligibility.
We will spare no effort without turning it over. I spoke to Paddy and his father and told him I could see he was under 21 and that there was a way for him too.
“It took him a while to sign the documents, but he was someone we were very happy to receive and he took his chance.”
Speaking about Lynn’s surprising start against the Hungarians, Baraclaw said: “I decided to go late at night, Monday morning, because he was working and training.
As he justified, he was ready and I think he proved it, he played it safe.
He is a man who came from football outside the league and has grown very quickly in international football and he can be very proud of what he has done so far.
Source: Belfastlive
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