O'Neill and Graham retain places in NI squad

Arsenal's Ceadach O'Neill and Everton's Braiden Graham have kept their places in Northern Ireland's squad for the upcoming Nations League quadruple-header.

The teenage pair were called up for the first time by Michael O'Neill for June friendlies against Guinea and France, with the Arsenal 18-year-old appearing in both games.

Defenders Dan Ballard, Paddy McNair, Terry Devlin and Eoin Toal have all returned to the squad after missing the June games.

Also back after not featuring in the summer are goalkeepers Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Conor Hazard, as well as striker Dion Charles.

There is a place in the squad for Michael Forbes too. The Dundee United defender won his only previous cap against Finland in 2023.

Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley, who has not played since January after knee surgery, remains absent and has been joined on the sidelines by Preston North End midfielder Ali McCann and Aberdeen's Brad Lyons.

After promotion from the third tier last year, Northern Ireland start their 2026 Nations League B campaign with an away trip to Georgia on 25 September and conclude the window at home to the same opposition on 5 October.

In between they face Hungary in Belfast and Ukraine in Slovakia.

With four games in just an 11-day span, Michael O'Neill has called up 28 players after only selecting 23 for the previous window in June.

The manager also has goalkeepers Luke Southwood and Josh Clarke, along with striker Jamie Reid on standby.

Goalkeepers: Pierce Charles (Queens Park Rangers, on loan from Manchester City), Conor Hazard (Wycombe Wanderers), Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool).

Defenders: Tom Atcheson (Blackburn Rovers), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Brodie Spencer (Oxford United), Dan Ballard (Sunderland), Paddy McNair (Hull City), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Michael Forbes (Dundee United)

Midfielders: Jordan Thompson (Preston North End), Shea Charles (Fulham), Jamie McDonnell (Oxford United), Justin Devenny (Stoke City), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley), Ethan Galbraith (Stoke City), Kieran Morrison (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Liverpool).

Forwards: Josh Magennis (Stevenage), Jamie Donley (Luton Town, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Dion Charles (Blackpool, on loan from Huddersfield Town), Callum Marshall (Luton Town), Ceadach O'Neill (Arsenal), Braiden Graham (Everton).