Michael O’Neill has named his squad for the remaining two fixtures in League B Group 2 of the fifth and current edition of the UEFA Nations League.
Northern Ireland, who currently top the B2 group with eight points from four games, are set to face Ukraine at home and Hungary away this month.
The Northern Ireland manager has chosen a 25-strong panel for the games in Belfast on Saturday 14 November and in Budapest on Tuesday 17 November.
Portsmouth striker Eoin Kenny and Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee are the two newcomers to O’Neill’s squad.
Kenny, who was born in Londonderry, receives his first senior call-up after representing Northern Ireland at Under-18 and U21 level (11 caps, one goal). He has also captained the U21s.
The 20-year-old forward began his career at Dundalk in the League of Ireland’s top flight. He scored 22 goals in 94 appearances for Dundalk and during his time with the LoI Men’s Premier Division side he also had a loan spell at Wexford.
He joined EFL Championship club Portsmouth during the summer. He has played just twice for Pompey this season, however he is a regular in the first team matchday squad.
Dermot Mee, who was born in Birmingham, receives his first senior call-up after representing Northern Ireland at U17, U19 and U21 level.
The 23-year-old keeper has been at Manchester United since 2015. During his time at Old Trafford he has had loan spells with Fulham, Trafford, Runcorn Linnets, Witton Albion and Altrincham.
Although he has yet to play for the first team at Manchester United, he has been an unused substitute twice for Michael Carrick’s team this season. He was on the bench for the UEFA Champions League matches against Sabah FK and Atletico Madrid.
Five players who were in the original 28-player panel for the UNL quadruple header in September/October are not included this time.
Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard, Bolton Wanderers defender Eoin Toal and Oxford United midfielder Jamie McDonnell are injured, while Blackpool keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Blackpool striker Dion Charles, who is on loan from Huddersfield Town, have dropped to the standby list.
Preston North End midfielder Alistair McCann, who missed the Nations League games against Georgia (home and away), Hungary (home) and Ukraine (away) in September/October, is also still not available due to injury.
Northern Ireland have four clean sheets in their B2 campaign to date. In game one they defeated Georgia away by a goal to nil. A 0-0 draw against Hungary in Belfast followed before they defeated Ukraine away 3-0 and drew 0-0 with Georgia at home.
Hungary, whom they will face at the 67,000-capacity Puskas Arena later this month, currently lie second in the group with seven points from their four matches so far.
Ukraine, who are Northern Ireland’s opponents at the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park on 14 November, have four points, while Georgia are propping up the table with two points.
Tickets for Northern Ireland v Ukraine are currently sold out, however supporters who still hope to attend are encouraged to join the waiting list should any tickets be released. The link is here.
The Northern Ireland squad for the games against Ukraine and Hungary this month is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Conor Hazard (Wycombe Wanderers), Pierce Charles (Queens Park Rangers, on loan from Manchester City), Dermot Mee (Manchester United).
Defenders – Ciaron Brown and Brodie Spencer (both Oxford United), Paddy McNair (Hull City), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Tom Atcheson (Blackburn Rovers), Michael Forbes (Dundee United).
Midfielders - Ethan Galbraith and Justin Devenny (both Stoke City), Shea Charles (Fulham), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Jordan Thompson (Preston North End), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley), Kieran Morrison (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Liverpool).
Forwards - Josh Magennis (Stevenage), Callum Marshall (Luton Town), Jamie Donley (Luton Town, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Braiden Graham (Everton), Ceadach O’Neill (Arsenal), Eoin Kenny (Portsmouth).
