Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill says he has been impressed by what he’s seen of West Ham youngster Callum Marshall.
The teenage striker from Glengormley is among three new call-ups named by O’Neill in the senior men’s squad for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Denmark (a) and Kazakhstan (h).
Marshall, who was an integral part of West Ham’s FA Youth Cup winning side this season, had been included in an Under 21 camp last month before joining the senior squad for two preparation camps in England.
I loved his attitude to the game and his real hunger for the game
O’Neill described the 18-year-old graduate of the Irish FA JD Academy as a player with great attitude and an eye for goal.
“I had heard quite a bit about Callum leading into the recent Under 21s camp.” O’Neill said. “I was obviously aware he had done very well for West Ham this year as they won the FA Youth Cup and he was a big part of that success.
“He impressed greatly in the 21s camp. I loved his attitude to the game and his real hunger for the game. He loves to score goals and I just felt we’d add him to the first senior camp at St George’s Park. Again, he showed exactly the same things.
“He hasn’t looked out of place at all in the senior camps so I thought we should include him.”
He added: “We have injuries to (Conor) Washington and (Josh) Magennis which leaves us only really with Dion (Charles). We’ve got Shayne Lavery coming back in and young Dale Taylor and now Callum as potentially our striking options.
“We’re not going to expect too much of Callum, but I think he earns and deserves his place in the squad.”
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