Bradley, 22, has won 30 caps for his country and has worn the captain’s armband on a number of occasions.
While O’Neill conceded that losing Bradley is a “huge blow” to NI’s hopes of reaching a first World Cup since 1986, he believes his squad has enough depth in the right-back position to cope.
Sunderland’s Trai Hume usually plays as a centre-back in a back-three for his country, although predominately is a full-back for his club, while Oxford United’s Brodie Spencer deputised for Bradley against Germany in October.
Portsmouth’s versatile Terry Devlin is another option too.
“I thought Conor had a great campaign for us, we missed him in the Germany game when he was suspended, but it’s something we have a period of time to prepare for, it’s not like it happened the week leading into the game,” O’Neill added.
“We have people that can play in that position, like Brodie Spencer, Terry Devlin is playing well for his club, Trai Hume can play there, so it is probably the position we are strongest in terms of options but not having Conor and what he brings on and off the pitch is a big blow and we have to deal with it.”
While certainly without Bradley, O’Neill also provided a fitness update on some other key players, including goalkeeper Pierce Charles who O’Neill says has “a chance” to be fit despite a second shoulder injury of his campaign.
Charles missed Northern Ireland’s entire World Cup qualifying campaign to date through a shoulder injury sustained in August then, after returning for Sheffield Wednesday in December, injured the opposite shoulder against Brentford in the FA Cup this month.
“Pierce didn’t have surgery and we were pleased he didn’t have the surgery because that probably would have ruled him out,” O’Neill said.
“He’s got a chance of being fit, we have to see how his rehab goes and timeframe leading into the [Italy] game when he’s back.”
Despite lasting only 17 minutes of his debut for Oxford United this month, O’Neill added that forward Jamie Donley’s injury “isn’t as bad as first feared”.
