
O'Neill Sticks with Youth as Northern Ireland Prepares for Nations League Challenge
Summary
Arsenal's Ceadach O'Neill and Everton's Braiden Graham have retained their spots in Northern Ireland's squad for the upcoming Nations League quadruple-header.
The teenage duo received their first call-ups from manager Michael O'Neill for the June friendlies against Guinea and France, with O'Neill, just 18, making appearances in both matches.
Key players returning to the squad include:
- Dan Ballard
- Paddy McNair
- Terry Devlin
- Eoin Toal They missed the June fixtures but are back for the crucial matches ahead.
Also rejoining the team are goalkeepers Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Conor Hazard, alongside striker Dion Charles. Defender Michael Forbes, who earned his only cap against Finland in 2023, is also included.
Notably, Conor Bradley, the Liverpool full-back who hasn’t played since January due to knee surgery, remains sidelined. He is joined by Ali McCann from Preston North End and Brad Lyons of Aberdeen, both unavailable for selection.
Northern Ireland kicks off their 2026 Nations League B campaign with an away match against Georgia on 25 September, concluding the window at home against the same team on 5 October. In between, they will face Hungary in Belfast and Ukraine in Slovakia.
With four matches scheduled over an 11-day period, O'Neill has expanded his squad to 28 players, up from 23 in June. Goalkeepers Luke Southwood and Josh Clarke, along with striker Jamie Reid, are on standby.
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