O'Neill and Graham retain places in NI squad — SkimNews
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- Ceadach O'Neill retains his place in Northern Ireland's squad after making appearances in both June friendlies against Guinea and France, marking continued faith in the 18-year-old Arsenal midfielder.
- Braiden Graham keeps his spot in the senior setup despite his youth, following his first call-up in June, as Everton's teenage forward remains part of Michael O'Neill's plans.
- Michael O'Neill expanded the squad to 28 players for the Nations League quadruple-header, up from 23 in June, citing the compressed schedule of four games in 11 days.
- Dan Ballard, Paddy McNair, Terry Devlin, and Eoin Toal return to the squad after missing the summer fixtures, reinforcing the defensive and midfield options for the upcoming campaign.
- Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Conor Hazard are back in goalkeeping contention, while Dion Charles returns as a striking option after not featuring in the June friendlies.
- Conor Bradley remains sidelined due to ongoing recovery from knee surgery that has kept him out since January, joining Ali McCann and Brad Lyons on the injury list.
Why it matters: The 28-player selection reflects the physical demands of playing four competitive games in 11 days, with key returns like Ballard and McNair restoring depth. Retaining two teenagers who already saw action in June signals a potential shift toward integrating younger talent into a squad preparing for a密集 Nations League schedule.
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