Paddy McNair insists he and his Northern Ireland team-mates are embracing a new style of football as they prepare to take on Austria in the Nations League on Friday night.

The men in green sit second in League B Group 3 after losing 2-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opener while the Austrians went down 1-0 to the same opposition.

It all means that Michael O’Neill’s men seem to be battling to avoid relegation and they need to get some points on the board sooner rather than later.

Hope is high that they can achieve that as the Green and White Army put on an encouraging display in defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a more expansive style welcomed by the squad.

“We are having more of the ball,” said McNair. “There are more passes and more shots. The boys are enjoying it.”

The Middlesbrough man’s preferred position is in midfield but he may be used at right-back or right wing-back in Vienna tonight.

And that is something that the former Manchester United and Sunderland ace is more than willing to do to aid the side’s cause.

“I will play where Michael wants me to play,” he added.

“Playing there allows you to get forward and put more balls into the box.

“You are more involved in the play and able to attack a lot. I really enjoyed it.”

Northern Ireland are priced at 6.00 to take all the points at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, with Austria on offer at 1.60 and the draw at 3.60.