Lee Bonis, Aaron Donnelly and Callum Marshall have been handed maiden call-ups for Northern Ireland’s UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Denmark and Kazakhstan.
Nottingham Forest defender, Donnelly has earned his call-up after impressing manager – Michael O’Neill during a training camp, having spent the second-half of this season on loan at Port Vale where he scored one goal in 20 appearances.
Donnelly’s fellow defender, Jonny Evans meanwhile is returning to the squad after he missed March’s international fixtures through injury, as Sunderland’s Daniel Ballard misses out with a hamstring injury.
Strikers, Bonis and Marshall likewise secured their call-ups after having impressed during a training camp, following positive seasons with Larne and West Ham respectively – with Marshall starring in the Hammers’ Under-18s which won the FA Youth Cup.
In midfield, Steven Davis, Corry Evans and Shane Ferguson miss out through injury as Isaac Price and Sean Goss keep their places, having been called up for March’s qualfiers against San Marino and Finland.
Oostende’s Cameron McGeehan meanwhile has been snubbed from selection in this squad.
Up front, Josh Magennis, Conor Washington and Liam Boyce miss out through injury as Gavin Whyte, Dion Charles, Matthew Kennedy, Conor McMenamin and Dale Taylor retain their places.
Northern Ireland currently sit fifth in Qualifying Group H and will visit Denmark in Copenhagen on 16 June, before hosting Kazakhstan at Windsor Park, Belfast on 19 June, with both matches kicking off at 7:45pm UK Time.
Here is 27-man Northern Ireland squad to face Denmark and Kazakhstan on 16 and 19 June respectively in full.
Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Burnley), Luke Southwood (Reading), Conor Hazard (Celtic)
Defence: Jonny Evans (Leicester City), Craig Cathcart (Watford), Jamal Lewis (Newcastle United), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Aaron Donnelly (Nottingham Forest)
Midfield: Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough), George Saville (Millwall), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Shea Charles (Manchester City), Paddy Lane (Fleetwood Town), Ethan Galbaith (Unattached), Isaac Price (Everton), Sean Goss (Unattached)
Forward: Gavin Whyte (Unattached), Dion Charles (Bolton Wanderers), Conor McMenamin (Glentoran), Shayne Lavery (Blackpool), Matthew Kennedy (Aberdeen), Dale Taylor (Nottingham Forest), Lee Bonis (Larne), Callum Marshall (West Ham)
Leave a Reply