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Thursday 27 May 2021
Northern Ireland U21s to play Scotland U21s twice as part of training camp

Northern Ireland’s Under-21 team are set to play Scotland twice next week as part of a training camp.

The away friendlies against the Scots will be staged at the C&G Systems Stadium in Dumbarton next Wednesday (2 June) and on Saturday 5 June. And both matches will be played behind closed doors.

The squad are set to be based in Scotland for the week-long camp, which marks the start of preparations for Euro qualifiers this autumn.

Interim U21s boss Andy Crosby has chosen a 22-strong panel for the training camp and matches.

His squad features six new faces alongside regular U21 players like Birmingham City midfielder Caolan Boyd-Munce, Linfield midfielder Cameron Palmer and Dunfermline striker Lewis McCann. 

Among the newcomers are Fleetwood Town midfielder Dylan Boyle and defender/midfielder Carl Johnston, who join club-mates Barry Baggley and Chris Conn-Clarke in the panel. Both have previously played for their country at U17 level. 

There’s also a first call-up to the U21s for Rangers centre back Kyle McClelland, who has previously played for Northern Ireland’s U17s and U19s, Nottingham Forest striker Dale Taylor and Linfield goalkeeper David Walsh, both of whom have U17 caps. 

Ballymena United forward Ryan Waide, who has previously played for Northern Ireland at U19 level, and Dungannon Swifts midfielder Oisin Smyth are the other new faces.

The qualifiers for the 2023 U21 Euros - the final tournament is set to be staged in Georgia and Romania - are due to get under way this autumn.

Northern Ireland have been drawn to face Spain, Russia, Slovakia, Lithuania and Malta in Qualifying Group C.

The U21s will begin their qualification campaign away to Malta on 3 September followed by a home qualifier against Slovakia on 7 September.

The squad for the two games v Scotland next week includes:

Goalkeepers – Dermot Mee (Manchester United), David Walsh (Linfield).

Defenders – Sean Stewart (Norwich City), Kyle McClelland (Rangers), Aaron Donnelly (Nottingham Forest), Kofi Balmer (Ballymena United), Finn Cousin-Dawson (Bradford City), Daniel Finlayson (St Mirren), Jack Scott (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Trai Hume (Ballymena United – on loan from Linfield), Eoin Teggart (unattached), Carl Johnston (Fleetwood Town).

Midfielders – Caolan Boyd-Munce (Birmingham City), Ben Wylie (Ballymena United – on loan from Celtic), Cameron Palmer (Linfield), Barry Baggley (Fleetwood Town), Chris Conn-Clarke (Fleetwood Town), Oisin Smyth (Dungannon Swifts), Dylan Boyle (Fleetwood Town).

Forwards – Dale Taylor (Nottingham Forest), Ryan Waide (Ballymena United), Lewis McCann (Dunfermline).