Michael O’Neill has announced his squad for this month’s FIFA World Cup 2026 home qualifiers against Slovakia and Germany.
The Northern Ireland manager has chosen a 27-strong panel for the two games at the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park.
First up for Northern Ireland in Group A of the European qualifiers is an encounter with table toppers Slovakia in Belfast next Friday (10 October) at 7.45pm.
Then it’s the turn of Germany to visit the National Stadium on Monday 13 October (7.45pm kick-off).
The Northern Ireland manager’s panel for the two sold-out matches shows several changes from the 25-strong senior men’s squad in camp for the away qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany last month.
The changes include four players who were not named in the panel last month and three who were originally named in the squad but were unable to travel to either Luxembourg City or Cologne.
Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Conor Hazard returns after missing out last month as a result of a knee injury picked up in June during the friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen.
Also back is Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown. He has just returned to action with his club after damaging a knee ligament towards the end of last season.
Experienced Exeter City forward Josh Magennis is back, too. Magennis, who has not featured in the squad since last November, will be aiming to add to his 82 caps and 12 international goals this month.
Winger Ross McCausland, who is currently on loan at Cypriot top flight side Aris Limassol from Rangers, is another returnee. He last featured in the squad for the friendlies against Switzerland and Sweden back in March.
Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard and Oxford United defender Brodie Spencer, both late withdrawals ahead of the two games in September due to injury, are fit and raring to go again.
And Queens Park Rangers winger Paul Smyth, another late withdrawal last month due to injury, is included once again.
Retaining their places in the panel are goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who is currently with Blackpool on a season-long loan from Birmingham City, and Bolton Wanderers defender Eoin Toal, who returned last month after missing the previous two international camps through injury.
Stevenage forward Jamie Reid and San Diego defender Paddy McNair both returned in September after missing previous camps – and they are both included once again.
AFC Wimbledon Ryan Johnson, who received his first senior international call-up last month, has retained his place in the panel along with Mansfield Town midfielder Jamie McDonnell (on loan from Nottingham Forest), who received his first senior call-up and made his senior international debut during the September international window.
Missing out this time are Waterford goalkeeper Stephen McMullan (on loan from Fleetwood Town), Ross County striker Ronan Hale, Blackpool forward Dale Taylor, Wycombe Wanderers midfielder Caolan Boyd-Munce and Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons, another late withdrawal last month due to injury.
Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles is still not available due to a shoulder injury, while Preston North End midfielder Jordan Thompson is recovering from ankle surgery.
The Northern Ireland squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham City), Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle), Luke Southwood (Bristol Rovers).
Defenders – Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume (both Sunderland), Ciaron Brown and Brodie Spencer (both Oxford United), Paddy McNair (San Diego), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Ryan Johnson (AFC Wimbledon).
Midfielders – George Saville (Luton Town), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Shea Charles (Southampton), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Ross McCausland (Aris Limassol, on loan from Rangers), Jamie Donley (Stoke City, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie McDonnell (Mansfield Town, on loan from Nottingham Forest).
Forwards – Josh Magennis (Exeter City), Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town), Callum Marshall (West Ham United), Jamie Reid (Stevenage).
