Hatters duo named in Northern Ireland squad for Nations League fixtures

Luton duo Callum Marshall and Jamie Donley have been named in the Northern Ireland squad for their four upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Striker Marshall, who moved to Kenilworth Road from West Ham United in the summer, scoring twice in six outings so far, has won 16 caps for his country previously, with four starts, although is yet to score, as he was in the squad for the international friendlies against Guinea and France recently.

Donley, meanwhile, who joined Town on loan from Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the transfer deadline, making four appearances so far with one goal, has made 10 outings for Northern Ireland, scoring twice, including the 1-1 draw at Wales in March. The pair are now part of a 28-man squad picked by manager Michael O’Neill for the four matches in Nations League B Group Two.

First up is an away game in Tbilisi against Georgia on Friday, September 25, followed by a home encounter against Hungary in Belfast on Monday, September 28. They will be away again on Friday, October 2 when taking on Ukraine in Slovakia, before facing Georgia at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on Monday, October 5.

The squad has nine changes and additions from the 23-player squad chosen for the friendlies against Guinea and France a few months ago, as returning to the fold are Blackpool goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Wycombe Wanderers stopper Conor Hazard. Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard is back, too, along with Portsmouth defender Terry Devlin and Bolton Wanderers defender Eoin Toal.

Another returnee is Preston North End midfielder Jordan Thompson, plus Blackpool striker Dion Charles and Hull City defender Paddy McNair, while Dundee United defender Michael Forbes is also back.

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool), Conor Hazard (Wycombe Wanderers), Pierce Charles (Queens Park Rangers, on loan from Manchester City). Defenders: Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume (both Sunderland), Ciaron Brown and Brodie Spencer (both Oxford United), Paddy McNair (Hull City), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Tom Atcheson (Blackburn Rovers), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), 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), Jamie McDonnell (Oxford United), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley), Kieran Morrison (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Liverpool). Forwards: Josh Magennis (Stevenage), Dion Charles (Blackpool, on loan from Huddersfield Town), Callum Marshall (Luton Town), Jamie Donley (Luton Town, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Braiden Graham (Everton), Ceadach O’Neill (Arsenal).