Northern Ireland Names Squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Liverpool's Conor Bradley has been selected for Northern Ireland's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany next month.
Although Bradley has yet to play for his club this season due to a hamstring injury, Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed that he returned to training on Thursday in preparation for Monday's Premier League match against Newcastle.
The 22-year-old defender, who has scored four international goals in 25 appearances, has been included in Michael O'Neill's roster for the away matches against Luxembourg on September 4 and Germany in Cologne three days later.
O'Neill commented, "He’s had a good pre-season. He has a minor injury, and Liverpool are being cautious with him. Hopefully, he’ll get some minutes, but he’s competing for a spot in one of the best teams in the world, which has recently signed several players and is the reigning Premier League champion.
"The most important thing is that he’s fit and available for us. Ideally, we would prefer him to come in having played three matches for Liverpool. However, that may not be the case, and the medical teams are in regular communication.
"The squad doesn't convene for another nine days, so we have several players who might play two or three games before then. We cannot predict who will be available, but we have selected the strongest squad possible from the players who are fit and available."
The upcoming fixtures, which will be broadcast live on the BBC, mark the beginning of Northern Ireland's qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Also included in the squad, despite fitness concerns, is Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles. The 20-year-old has been O'Neill's preferred choice in goal since last year's Nations League campaign, but he sustained a shoulder injury during Sheffield Wednesday's Championship defeat to Stoke City. The club confirmed on Thursday that he "faces a spell on the sidelines."
O'Neill stated, "We are in discussions with Sheffield Wednesday regarding Pierce's injury, but we do not yet know the full extent. We have two weeks before our matches, so we must ensure that we give ourselves the best chance for him to be fit to play if selected.
"We also need to have cover in place if he is unable to participate, and that is our plan. The situation has only developed in the last 24 hours, and we hope for positive news before we gather, but we will have to wait and see."
With his usual international backup, Plymouth Argyle's Conor Hazard, yet to play this season due to an injury sustained against Denmark in June, O'Neill has recalled Bailey Peacock-Farrell. The Birmingham City goalkeeper, currently on loan at Blackpool, has earned 48 caps for Northern Ireland but has not been included in an international squad since September 2024.
Defenders Paddy McNair and Eoin Toal return after missing the June friendlies due to injury, while Jamie Reid's impressive start to the League One season has earned him an international recall.
Northern Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham City), Luke Southwood (Bristol Rovers).
Defenders: Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard (both Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Oxford United), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Paddy McNair (San Diego), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth).
Midfielders: George Saville (Luton Town), Shea Charles (Southampton), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Caolan Boyd-Munce (Wycombe Wanderers), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Callum Marshall (West Ham United), Jamie Donley (Stoke City, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town), Jamie Reid (Stevenage), Dale Taylor (Blackpool), Ronan Hale (Ross County).