Northern Ireland Under-21s boss Tommy Wright has announced his squad for three friendlies this month.
The U21s are set to take part in a mini tournament in Antalya in Turkey where they will be playing matches against Moldova U21s, Ukraine’s Under-20s and Uzbekistan U21s.
The games will act as preparation for the 2025-27 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying group stage.
Wright’s team will be facing Germany, Georgia, Greece, Latvia and Malta in Group F of those qualifiers. The first game is away to Georgia in September.
For the games in Turkey this month he has chosen a 23-strong squad that features 10 new faces.
Nine of the newcomers have previously played for their country at either U19 or U17 level – or both.
The one new face is Sam Inwood, a 19-year-old defender with Bolton Wanderers.
The other players called up to the U21s squad for the first time are Rangers goalkeeper Mason Munn, Derry City defender Conor Barr (currently on loan at Ballymena United), Linfield defender Matty Orr, Waterford midfielder Sam Glenfield, Galway United midfielder Max Wilson, Ipswich Town midfielder Rio Morgan, Celtic midfielder Fra Turley, Blackburn Rovers forward Aodhan Doherty and Sunderland forward Rhys Walsh.
The U21s will be facing Ukraine’s U20s in Antalya on Thursday 20 March and then Uzbekistan on Saturday 22 March. Their final game in the tournament is against Turkmenistan U21 on Tuesday 25 March.
Wright said: “We are really looking forward to it. Three games in a 10-day spell will be quite tough for the players. We have a squad of 23 so it gives me an opportunity to use all those players and give them minutes. It also gives them an opportunity to impress me going forward.”
He said facing a team from outside Europe would give his players an opportunity to experience different styles of play.
The U21s squad for the games in Turkey is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Fraser Barnsley (Everton), Stephen McMullan (Waterford, on loan from Fleetwood Town), Mason Munn (Rangers).
Defenders – Tom Atcheson (Marine, on loan from Blackburn Rovers), Conor Barr (Ballymena United, on loan from Derry City), Matthew Carson (Torquay United), Tommy Fogarty (Dunfermline, on loan from Birmingham City), Sam Inwood (Bolton Wanderers), Shea Kearney (Cliftonville), Matty Orr (Linfield), Bayley McCann (Doncaster).
Midfielders – Patrick Kelly (Doncaster Rovers, on loan from West Ham United), Jamie McDonnell (Colchester, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Sam Glenfield (Waterford), Rio Oudnie Morgan (Ipswich Town), Darren Robinson (Hartlepool United, on loan from Derby County), Francis Turley (Celtic), Max Wilson (Galway United).
Forwards – Aodhan Doherty (Blackburn Rovers), Conor Falls (Curzon Ashton, on loan from Huddersfield Town), Makenzie Kirk (St Johnstone), Liam McStravick (Airdrieonians), Rhys Walsh (Sunderland).
