Four Northern Ireland players return to clubs as Michael O'Neill provides squad update ahead of Wales trip
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has revealed four players have returned to their respective clubs and won’t be involved in Tuesday’s friendly against Wales.
Having lost 2-0 to Italy in last week’s World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo, Northern Ireland will now travel to Cardiff – a fixture which could provide O’Neill with an opportunity to give minutes to fringe squad players.
In a fresh update provided on Monday, it has been confirmed Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Ruairi McConville, Paddy McNair and Ali McCann will all play no part at the Cardiff City Stadium after leaving the international camp.
Peacock-Farrell featured throughout Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifying group campaign in the absence of Pierce Charles – the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper was recalled in Italy after recovering from a shoulder injury.
McConville was one of Northern Ireland’s top performers on Thursday night with the 20-year-old filling a void left by Dan Ballard and formed a back-three alongside McNair and captain Trai Hume.
It had been hoped Preston North End midfielder McCann would win his race against time to be fit for the Italian showdown, but he couldn’t recover from a knock sustained on club duty earlier this month.
With no replacements called into the squad, O’Neill will now have 24 players to select from in Cardiff.
Goalkeepers – Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Josh Clarke (Partick Thistle, on loan from Celtic).
Defenders – Ciaron Brown and Brodie Spencer (both Oxford United), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Tom Atcheson (Blackburn Rovers).
Midfielders – Jamie Donley and Jamie McDonnell (both Oxford United), George Saville (Luton Town), Shea Charles (Southampton), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley), Kieran Morrison (Liverpool).
Forwards – Josh Magennis (Exeter City), Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town), Callum Marshall (Vfl Bochum, on loan from West Ham United), Jamie Reid (Stevenage).