Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill believes that Charles “deserves” the chance to lead the team out at a raucous Windsor Park as a reward for his consistent form.

“For me it was an easy decision, Shea is a player since we have put in the team that has taken huge responsibility, putting an armband around him doesn’t change that,” he added.

O’Neill is confident that Charles has the qualities both on and off the pitch to thrive in the role.

“Shea has got the attributes to play at the highest level of the game and the temperament to do so and that is what you look for as a captain.

“Whether he has the armband or not he is going to be a leader on the pitch and since I have come in he has been available for every game, played every game so as a manager what more can you ask for.”

The manager also feels that Charles playing regular first team football in the Championship – on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Southampton – has only helped his game.

“The biggest benefit to Shea playing in the Championship has been his improvement in his ability without the ball. We all know his abilities with the ball, but he has really improved without the ball,” O’Neill continued.

“Shea doesn’t need coached he needs games, the more games he plays will just elevate him.”

Luke Littler produced a stunning fightback to beat Mike de Decker 10-9 and reach the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals.

The 17-year-old was 9-7 down and on the brink of exiting the tournament, but won three consecutive legs to secure a meeting with Jermaine Wattimena.

Littler had taken a 2-0 lead but De Decker got on level terms, then seemed to have the momentum as the match wore on.

The Belgian built an 8-4 cushion but Littler rallied with an 11-dart leg.

De Decker had a chance to win with a checkout of 170, but missed the bullseye before Littler squared the match at 9-9.

In the deciding leg Littler held his nerve and nailed treble 18, double 16, to seal victory and a place in the last eight.

“I don’t know if I enjoyed that. I’ve got to feel for Mike. I didn’t think I was in the game, but I know I can always switch that gear,” Littler told Sky Sports.

“Early on I was at my normal pace but towards the end I was taking an extra second, and that helped me. I might have to throw like that from now on.

“I didn’t think I could overturn the deficit [in the final session]. I just can’t believe it.”

Earlier in Wolverhampton, Wattimena progressed after winning a 10-9 thriller of his own against Dimitri van den Bergh, while Gian van Veen cruised to a 10-2 win over Ryan Joyce.

Interim ONE strawweight champion Jarred Brooks is set to move up to flyweight for his next fight scheduled against Reece McLaren at the upcoming ONE Fight Night 26 card, which is scheduled on Dec. 6 from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

ONE Championship officials confirmed the pairing to MMA Fighting on Thursday.

It’s an interesting move for Brooks after he held the ONE strawweight title but lost the belt following an illegal slam delivered to Joshua Pacio back in March. Rather than get an immediate rematch, Brooks ended claiming an interim strawweight title by taking out Gustavo Balart by rear naked choke in his next outing in August.

Now Brooks moves up to flyweight where ONE currently doesn’t have a champion following Demetrious Johnson announcing his retirement from the sport in September. He will still hold onto the ONE interim strawweight title.

Since moving to ONE Championship, Brooks has gone 5-1 overall with his only loss coming from that disqualification.

As for McLaren, the 33-year-old veteran is a mainstay in ONE dating back to 2015 when he made his debut for the promotion. A perennial contender throughout his career, McLaren has gone 3-1 in his past four fights with hopes that he can take out Brooks and potentially put his name in the hat to compete for the vacant flyweight title.

ONE Fight Night 26 goes down on Dec. 6 from Thailand with more fights expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

LUKE LITTLER refused to celebrate despite producing an epic comeback to move a step closer to lifting the Grand Slam of Darts this weekend.

The Nuke, 17, maintained his 100 per cent record on his debut appearance as he survived a match dart to knock out Mike De Decker from the last 16 in Wolverhampton.

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The Warrington teen came from 8-4 down to win 10-9 in a last-leg decider in the West Midlands.

And he will now take on Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, who survived EIGHT match darts as he overcame Dimitri Van Den Bergh 10-9 earlier in the evening.

But after booking his spot in the final eight with double eight, Littler looked almost embarrassed to go through as he shook his head and held up his hands in apology.

Littler – who won six of the last seven legs – will take part in a fifth TV major quarter-final.

He said: “The crowd were amazing. I feel for Mike. Personally myself, I didn’t think I was in the game.

“I know I can always switch that gear.

“I threw at my normal pace. And then I was taking one second to release it and that helped.

“I may have to throw like that from now on. I know I have it in me. I cannot believe this.”

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De Decker, 28, is the World Grand Prix champion and is enjoying the year of his life but he lost his bottle in the key moments against the Boy Wonder.

Coming into the contest, Littler’s TV average this year was more than 100 and that highlights the incredible standard he has set in his first season as a professional player.

The Nuke – who was serenaded by the crowd – won the Bull backstage and led 3-2 at the first TV break.

De Decker then turned it around to go 8-4 ahead and even had darts to go 9-5 up.

But he had his wobbles late on – including when he went for the bull to secure a Big Fish finale – and Littler ramped up the pressure and enjoyed some luck to record one of his best wins of 2024.

Gian van Veen crushed Ryan Joyce 10-2 with a 106.45 average, seven 180s and a success rate of more than 50 per cent on his doubles earlier on in the night.

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England head coach Borthwick has made four changes from the side beaten by Australia in their last outing, including the reintroduction of full-back Freddie Steward and scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet.

George says both players are “frothing” at the prospect of facing South Africa.

“They are ready to take their opportunity because of all the work they have put in off the field,” he added.

“They have trained brilliantly and the nice thing is they are not coming in with one or two caps. They have played at international level and they are frothing at the bit to get involved.

“Whenever that ball goes in the air, the expectation is to catch the ball. Freddie [Steward] retrieves more ball for us than anyone and he is excellent in that area.

“The South African gameplan lends itself to putting the ball in the air a bit more, but there is no better man to have back there.”

England have not won at home since March when they beat Ireland in the Six Nations and George says the hosts need a result to match their performances.

“We always feel pressure to win,” said the 34-year-old.

“We know that the fans want a win and we want to bring that for them. They have been brilliant and we have spoken a lot about this connection with the fans, but I’m aware the performance only goes so far and we need to bring the result.

“I want the Allianz to believe we can win because we believe we can win.”