Jonny Evans: Young players like Paul Smyth have given Northern Ireland a lift

The next generation's emergence in Michael O'Neill's senior squad has reinvigorated Northern Ireland after their World Cup play-off heartache, according to Jonny Evans.

Only six months have passed since a 1-0 aggregate loss to Switzerland denied the Northern Irish a place at their first World Cup since 1986, but Michael O'Neill's squad has already been reshaped.