Northern Ireland midfielder Oliver Norwood has suggested that Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United have both had a positive impact on a number of the country's players.

Norwood's NI made it to their first major tournament finals in 30 years last week having qualified for Euro 2016, and the Reading midfielder has since heaped praise on his old club that brought through six players in the current Northern Ireland squad.

"It might sound silly, but the United lads were brought up properly. We worked under the regime of the best manager who's ever managed in football, Sir Alex Ferguson," said Norwood, according to The Mirror.

"What he passed through that club - to the youth team, to every academy boy - that's something we can look back on with pride. We were all together there and now we're all together here at Northern Ireland.

"We were brought up in a proper football club, training every day with world-class players, but seeing they're just normal people."

Northern Ireland finished top of Group F with 21 points from 10 games.