Striker Dion Charles has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland senior men’s squad ahead of the upcoming friendlies against Spain and Andorra.
The Bolton Wanderers forward has suffered a recurrence of a knee injury which limited his number of club appearances towards the end of the EFL League One season.
Providing an update on his squad today, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill said: “The players and staff have had a great week training and preparing for the important friendly against Spain.
“Some players came in later to the camp because of their club schedules. We have a full bill of health other than Dion (Charles) who had to withdraw due to the knee injury that he had.
“Dion has left the camp, which is obviously the right thing for him to do, and we send him our best wishes. This has left us with a squad of 25 players.”
Northern Ireland’s players have been training in Murcia since the end of last week in preparation for the game against Spain at Son Moix Stadium in Mallorca on Saturday (8 June).
O’Neill further revealed: “We have had a really good six or seven days. We have a good young group who are bonding well, training well together, and spending their downtime wisely whilst working hard on the pitch.
“They have a great work ethic and there is a good mood around the camp.”
The squad are due to fly into Mallorca this evening from Murcia, after being put through their paces at their training camp base in Murcia this morning.
And they will train at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix tomorrow evening ahead of the international challenge match against Spain.
“Tomorrow’s session will give us a chance to sharpen up before the game on Saturday night,” the Northern Ireland boss added.
Saturday’s game against the Spanish in Palma is due to kick off at 20.30 BST, while Northern Ireland’s second friendly this month, against Andorra at Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia next Tuesday (11 June), will kick off at 19.45BST.
The revised 25-strong Northern Ireland squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Aarhus, on loan from Burnley), Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday).
Defenders – Jonny Evans (Manchester United), Jamal Lewis (Watford, on loan from Newcastle United), Daniel Ballard (Sunderland), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Huddersfield Town), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Aaron Donnelly (Dundee, on loan from Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders – Corry Evans (Sunderland), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Shea Charles (Southampton), Conor McMenamin (St Mirren), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Isaac Price (Standard Liege), Ross McCausland (Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Leyton Orient), Caolan Boyd-Munce (St Mirren).
Forwards - Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic), Callum Marshall (West Ham United), Jamie Reid (Stevenage), Dale Taylor (Wycombe Wanderers, on loan from Nottingham Forest).
Training in Murcia
