Youth has been a central theme in Northern Ireland squads since O’Neill returned for a second stint as manager in 2022
Youth has been a central theme in Northern Ireland squads since O’Neill returned for a second stint as manager in 2022Michael O’Neill is keen to get a look at the latest batch of Northern Ireland prospects when they take on Guinea in a friendly in Spain on Thursday.
Youth has been a central theme in Northern Ireland squads since O’Neill returned for a second stint as manager in 2022, and the promise in this group was a key factor in his decision to turn down Blackburn and sign a new four-year contract last week. Now, with nine of the players O’Neill called up for the World Cup qualifying play-off against Italy unavailable for this camp, there are more fresh faces in the 23-man group selected for Thursday’s match and Monday’s trip to face World Cup-bound France in Lille.
Liverpool’s 19-year-old winger Kieran Morrison, who scored 14 goals in 20 appearances for the Reds’ under-21s this season, was disappointed not to get his chance in the 1-1 friendly draw with Wales last time out but should be involved this time. And this time Morrison is joined by two more Premier League prospects who are getting their first taste of an international camp as Northern Ireland train in Cadiz, Spain this week.
Braiden Graham scored 22 goals in 31 appearances for Everton’s under-21s this season while Ceadach O’Neill scored 13 in 17 for Arsenal’s under-18s. Both 18-year-olds first came through with Linfield. Ceadach O’Neill of Arsenal is challenged by Jaydan Kamason of Manchester United during the FA Youth Cup quarter-final at Emirates Stadium“We’re in a third day of training here and the lads have all shown up well,” O’Neill said.
“We’ve seen them at underage level as well so we know what to expect. They’re all exciting players. They’re all at big clubs trying to make the breakthrough: Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal. It’s a tough challenge for any young player.
“You can see why they are at that level. Hopefully involvement at the international level helps their club situation as well. We’re delighted to have them here and they’ve fitted in extremely well. ” O’Neill will need to shuffle his pack to some degree with Paddy McNair, Dan Ballard, Eoin Toal, and Dion Charles just some on the names on a long list of absentees, while Conor Bradley is still on the sidelines too.
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