Northern Ireland Under-21s boss Tommy Wright has revealed his squad for three upcoming Euro qualifiers.
Wright has chosen a 24-player panel for games against Malta, Georgia and Greece.
The U21s currently sit third in Group F in the 2025-27 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying group stage. They have 10 points after winning three, drawing one and losing three in their seven group games to date.
Germany top the group with 18 points from seven matches. Greece also have 18 points, however the Germans have a better goal difference.
Northern Ireland’s U21s will complete their qualification campaign this autumn with games against Malta away (26 September), Georgia at home (1 October) and Greece at home (6 October). The Euro qualifier against the Georgians is being staged at Ballymena Showgrounds, while Mourneview Park in Lurgan is the venue for the game against the Greeks.
Wright’s squad for the triple header of U21 Euro 2027 qualifiers shows several changes from the panel chosen for a friendly against Portugal in early June.
Goalkeeper Fraser Barnsley (Everton) and defenders Josh Briggs (West Ham United) and Matthew Orr (Nottingham Forest) are back after missing the trip to Estoril through injury.
Defender Shea Kearney (Dunfermline Athletic) and attacker Cole Brannigan (Aston Villa) also return alongside goalkeeper Stephen McMullan (Waterford, on loan from Fleetwood Town). Midfielders Jack Patterson (Everton) and Francis Turley (Celtic) are returnees, too.
Striker Paul McGovern, who joined Scottish Premiership side Falkirk from Glenavon in the summer, has been called in to the U21s squad for the first time. He previously played for Northern Ireland’s U19s and U17s.
And there’s also a first U21s call-up for Fleetwood Town defender Conor Haughey, who has also previously represented his country at U17 and U19 level
Dundee United defender Michael Forbes, who played in the defeat to Portugal in early summer, has been called up to the senior men’s squad for their forthcoming UEFA Nations League quadruple header.
Other players who made the trip to Estoril but do not feature this time include goalkeepers Mason Munn and Francis Hurl, defenders Harry Lynch, Logan Wallace and Sean Brown plus midfielder Dylan Sloan and attacker George Feeney.
Ticket information will be released on Monday 21 September.
The Northern Ireland U21s squad for the three upcoming Euro qualifiers is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Fraser Barnsley (Everton), Joshua Gracey (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Stephen McMullan (Waterford, on loan from Fleetwood Town).
Defenders – Conor Barr (Derry City), Joshua Briggs (West Ham United), Samuel Inwood (Swindon Town, on loan from Bolton Wanderers), Shea Kearney (Dunfermline Athletic), Bayley McCann (Doncaster Rovers), Matthew Orr (Nottingham Forest), Jonathan Russell (Crawley Town), Conor Haughey (Fleetwood Town).
Midfielders – Callum Burnside (Airdrieonians, on loan from Rangers), Ryan Donnelly (Leicester City), Sam Glenfield (Waterford), Jack Patterson (Everton), Darren Robinson (Doncaster Rovers), James Simpson (Larne), Francis Turley (Celtic).
Forwards – Cole Brannigan (Aston Villa), Aodhan Doherty (Falkirk, on loan from Blackburn Rovers), Eoin Kenny (Portsmouth), Makenzie Kirk (Barnsley, on loan from Portsmouth), Paul McGovern (Falkirk), Devlan Moses (Sheffield Wednesday).
