WATCH 'My heart says Northern Ireland ... my head Netherlands' Gerry Armstrong gives his verdict on crunch Euro 2020 qualifier in Rotterdam

Northern Ireland will have to be at their very best if they’re to get anything out of the Euro qualifier with Netherlands tomorrow (Thursday).

That’s the verdict of former star Gerry Armstrong.

He’s a guest on our latest BetMcLean Football Show which was recorded at the National Stadium at Windsor Park.

This is now available to view on Cool FM’s Facebook page (see link below).

Also guesting this week is Glenavon keeper Jonny Tuffey.

Armstrong, whose goal gave Northern Ireland a famous victory over Spain in the 1982 World Cup, told us.

"My heart tells me that we can get a result, but my head tells me they're too good for us.

“That's the problem, but I'd love to see Northern Ireland get a result. I think it's a really tough, tough ask, especially after losing against Germany,"

"I think the Dutch are better than the Germans, I think they're a really good side and they play good football so it's a tough task, but you have to believe."

Armstrong added that the absence of young Norwich defender Jamal Lewis does concern him.

"I worry with Jamal Lewis not playing, and who's going to replace him,” he said.

“But Michael O'Neill's got a good squad of players who have belief in themselves. I'm hoping that can take us to another level."

Meanwhile, former Crusaders star Gavin Whyte is braced for the one of the toughest games of his career.

However, little fazes a man who continues to make a rapid rise up the ranks.

Fifteen months ago Whyte was turning out for the Crues in a pre-season friendly against Harland & Wolff Welders.

But since then he has since got a season of League One football under his belt with Oxford before signing for Championship club Cardiff in the summer, while earning five Northern Ireland caps.

After an impressive cameo as a substitute in last month's 2-0 defeat to Germany at Windsor Park, Whyte is hoping to get the nod from manager Michael O'Neill on Thursday in Rotterdam.

“This will probably be one of the hardest games I've played so far in my career, but I'm really looking forward to it,'' the 23-year-old said.

“You play football to test yourself and play these big teams in front of these crowds in these competitions.''

Though he could not alter the result, Whyte added a spark to Northern Ireland's play in the final half an hour against the Germans in Belfast, showing he can make a difference to a game against some of the tough opposition out there.

“It gives me loads of confidence. It was obviously disappointing not lining up for that game, but it's the manager's decision and you have to abide by it,'' he said.

“I felt confident going on. He told me, 'Just get the ball and do your normal thing' and I didn't actually look at it as if it was a Germany game.

“I looked at it as if it was a normal game. I just wanted to get the ball as much as I could and do something with it. I thought I did alright when I came on.''

It was shortly after that match against the Welders that Whyte was snapped up by Oxford, and he scored nine goals in 47 appearances for the U's to persuade Cardiff that he was worth a look this summer following their relegation from the Premier League.

He is yet to get on the score-sheet for the Bluebirds but has been a regular in Neil Warnock's side.

“I'm really enjoying my football at the moment,'' he said. “I'm confident in myself and taking every game as it comes. I want to play as much as I can.

“Working under Warnock is really good, just listening to him, he's been there done that, which can only make me better as a player.

“Every game that comes I feel I'm getting more confident, whereas at the start it's a new league and so competitive and I've never played in that league before.

“I'm getting used to it and I'm all settled in and taking each game as it comes.

“It's a big jump. You don't get as much time on the ball, but as I've always said everything's happened so quickly for me and I'm glad it's been like that.

"You have to adapt quickly. I think I've done that, but it's just the start and hopefully there are more chapters."

• gerry armstrong
• northern ireland
• euro qualifiers