Northern Ireland Under-21s boss Tommy Wright has brought in three players to his squad for the upcoming Euro qualifier against Georgia.
They include two new faces in Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Josh Gracey and Everton midfielder Jack Patterson.
Midfielder Bayley McCann, who has previously been in a U21s squad and played for Northern Ireland at youth level, has also received a call-up. McCann is currently on loan with Peterborough Sports in the National League North. Barnsley, who play in League One, are his parent club.
Former Glenavon and now Wolves U21 keeper Gracey (17) has already played for his country at U15, U16 and U18 level, while 19-year-old Patterson, who is in Everton’s U21 side this season, has played for Northern Ireland U17s and U19s.
Birmingham City defender Tommy Fogarty has had to withdraw from Wright’s panel due to injury, while both midfielder Jamie McDonnell (Mansfield Town, on loan from Nottingham Forest) and Fleetwood Town keeper Stephen McMullan, who is currently on loan at League of Ireland side Waterford, have been elevated to the senior squad.
The U21s are taking part in a training camp in Loughborough in Leicestershire before they begin their qualification campaign for U21 Euro 2027 away to Georgia next Wednesday (9 September).
Northern Ireland’s men’s Under-21 side are also set to meet Germany, Greece, Latvia and Malta in the 2025-27 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying group stage (Group F). Georgia are second seeds in the group, with Germany the top seeds.
Next month the U21s will face both Malta and Germany at home - on 9 and 14 October respectively - at The Oval.
And game number four for them in Group F is also a home fixture at Glentoran FC’s ground in east Belfast. It’s against Latvia on 13 November.
