Gareth McAuley has named his Northern Ireland Under-19s squad for Euro qualifiers this month.
The U19s are set to compete in four-team Group 13 in the qualifying round of UEFA U19 Euro 2026 qualifiers, with the games being staged in Malta.
Under-19s boss McAuley has chosen a 20-strong squad to take on Malta, Azerbaijan and Czechia.
First up is a game against hosts Malta at the Centenary Stadium complex in Ta’Qali in central Malta next Wednesday (12 November) at 10am GMT.
Matchday two will see the U19s take on Azerbaijan at Ta’Qali next Saturday (15 November) at 1.30pm GMT.
Their final group game in stage one of the UEFA U19 Euro 2026 qualifiers is against Czechia on Tuesday 18 November and will once again be staged at Ta’Qali (10am GMT start).
The top two teams in 13 groups as well as the best third-placed team will join top seeds Spain in the elite round draw on 10 December. The elite round in spring 2026 will produce the seven nations joining hosts Wales in the finals scheduled from 28 June to 11 July next year.
All the players in McAuley’s squad have previously played for their country, or trained with international squads, at either U16, U17, U18 or U19 level.
Three players included in Tommy Wright's U21 squad last month - Arsenal winger Ceadach O’Neill, Southampton defender Broghan Sewell and Cliftonville midfielder Joe Sheridan - have moved down to take part in the mini tournament in Malta.
The squad for the games this month is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Will Murdock (Manchester United), Josh Gracey (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Defenders – Callum Leacock (West Ham United), Luke Matykiewicz (Leeds United), Coist Walker (Hull City), James Simpson (Larne), Keevan Hawthorne (Cliftonville), Broghan Sewell (Southampton), Alfie Friars (Stockport County, on loan from Derby County).
Midfielders – Dylan Stitt (Luton Town), Jack Doherty (Fleetwood Town), Callum Burnside (Rangers), Blaine McClure (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Rangers), Kalum Thompson (Nottingham Forest), Brandon Downey (Portsmouth), Ceadach O’Neill (Arsenal), Joe Sheridan (Cliftonville).
Forwards – George Feeney (Tottenham Hotspur), Braiden Graham (Everton), Paul McGovern (Glenavon).
