Mr Motivator... Stoke manager Michael O'Neill had the club clawing their way to safety using principles from his successful reign at Northern Ireland before the coronavirus hit, now he is living life in suspended animation

Edinburgh in the spring is a nice place to be, it's just not where Michael O'Neill really wishes to be.

With the football season suspended, the manager of Stoke City and Northern Ireland has retreated 'back up the road' to the family home in Scotland.

Instead of the pressures and intensity of a Championship survival fight and the anticipation of a Euro 2020 play-off game with his country, O'Neill is living his life in suspended animation, just like everybody else.

'Yeah, I am the same as everyone,' O'Neill tells Sportsmail.