SM
Spain vs. Switzerland: 15 hrs 18 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Ian Baraclough selects mix of youth and experience in Northern Ireland squad

:Headline: Ian Baraclough selects mix of youth and experience in Northern Ireland squad:
Teenagers Sam McClelland and Conor Bradley have been included in a 25-man squad.
Sports Mole

Chelsea defender Sam McClelland and Liverpool's Conor Bradley have been handed their first senior Northern Ireland call-ups as manager Ian Baraclough looks to a mix of youth and experience for friendlies against Malta and Ukraine.

The teenagers are included in a 25-man squad for the trip, but the likes of skipper Steven Davis and vice-captain Jonny Evans are among those afforded a rest at the end of the season.

There are still plenty of familiar faces, however, with Leeds' Stuart Dallas, Kilmarnock's Kyle Lafferty and Middlesbrough's Paddy McNair making the trip as part of an experienced core.

Northern Ireland have travelled to Austria where they will face Malta in Klagenfurt on Sunday. The fixture, which replaced a friendly against Turkey which was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions, has been moved forward a day to Sunday evening to comply with FIFA regulations.

The team will then travel to Dnipro to face Euro 2020-bound Ukraine next Thursday.

Baraclough will be keen to use the trip to assess his squad before the World Cup qualifiers resume in September, and is looking to expand his options as he bloods more youngsters.

McClelland, 19, has been a regular for Chelsea's under-23s this term, and the Coleraine-born centre-half has previously represented his country at under-19 and under-17 level.

Bradley, who has been playing at under-23 level for the Reds, captained Northern Ireland Schoolboys to the Victory Shield in 2018 and has also played for the country's under-17s.

Captain Steven Davis is among the senior players allowed a rest at the end of the season (Brian Lawless/PA)

They are two of three uncapped players in the squad, along with Liverpool goalkeeper Liam Hughes, who was in the group in March for the qualifiers against Italy and Bulgaria, plus the friendly against the United States.

Accrington striker Dion Charles, who made his friendly against the Americans, retains his place, as does Linfield striker Shayne Lavery, fresh from becoming the first player to be named Ulster Footballer of the Year and Young Player of the Year in the same season.

There is a return for Rangers winger Jordan Jones following his loan at Sunderland, while Paul Smyth, who is out of contract at QPR this summer, is also back.

Hearts striker Liam Boyce, who missed the March fixtures for personal reasons, returns to the fold.

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Burnley), Conor Hazard (Celtic), Liam Hughes (Liverpool).

Defenders: Craig Cathcart (Watford), Stuart Dallas (Leeds), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough), Daniel Ballard (Arsenal – on loan at Blackpool), Ciaron Brown (Cardiff), Sam McClelland (Chelsea), Conor Bradley (Liverpool).

Midfielders: Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), George Saville (Middlesbrough), Jordan Thompson (Stoke), Alistair McCann (St Johnstone), Alfie McCalmont (Leeds), Jordan Jones (Rangers), Gavin Whyte (Cardiff), Ethan Galbraith (Manchester United).

Forwards: Kyle Lafferty (Kilmarnock), Josh Magennis (Hull), Liam Boyce (Hearts), Shayne Lavery (Linfield), Dion Charles (Accrington), Paul Smyth (QPR).

body check tags ::

amp_article__449096 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-05-26 09:35:39:
html db last update - 2021-05-26 09:35:39 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Ian Baraclough

Click here for more stories about Malta

Share this article now:
EM
Read Next:
Wednesday's World Cup qualifying predictions including England vs. Poland
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Ian Baraclough Steven Davis Stuart Dallas Paddy McNair Jonny Evans Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Wednesday's World Cup qualifying predictions including England vs. Poland
Lee-ving on a high: Carsley's England crush 10-man Ireland to win promotion

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Kane starts and a new debutant: England team to face Ireland confirmed!

1

KS

Set piece specialist Digne delivers as France snatch top spot from Italy

2

SP

Preview: Cameroon vs. Zimbabwe - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PC

Man United and Amorim's Gyokeres transfer boost: "Sell for the right price"

4

MU

Lee-ving on a high: Carsley's England crush 10-man Ireland to win promotion

5

LO

Preview: Brazil vs. Uruguay - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PB

Major blow! Man United player withdraws from international duty through injury

7

MB

Preview: Mexico vs. Honduras - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PM

Preview: Palestine vs. South Korea - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PP

Preview: Senegal vs. Burundi - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PS


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .