NORTHERN IRELAND: teenagers get first senior international call-ups
Teenagers Sam McClelland and Conor Bradley have been included in the Northern Ireland senior squad for the first time.
They are among 25 players named by manager Ian Baraclough for the upcoming friendlies with Malta and Ukraine.
McClelland (19) is a centre-back with Chelsea while 17-year-old Bradley is part of the youth set up at Liverpool.
Also included is Linfield striker Shayne Lavery who helped his side to a domestic double this season.
Meanwhile, skipper Steven Davis is rested along with Jonny Evans, and Jamal Lewis.
Northern Ireland will play Malta on Sunday evening in Austria before heading to Ukraine next Thursday
SQUAD AS FOLLOWS:
Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Burnley), Conor Hazard (Celtic), Liam Hughes (Liverpool).
Defenders: Craig Cathcart (Watford), Stuart Dallas (Leeds United), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough), Daniel Ballard (Arsenal – on loan at Blackpool), Ciaron Brown (Cardiff City), Sam McClelland (Chelsea), Conor Bradley (Liverpool).
Midfielders: Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), George Saville (Middlesbrough), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Alistair McCann (St Johnstone), Alfie McCalmont (Leeds United), Jordan Jones (Rangers), Gavin Whyte (Cardiff City), Ethan Galbraith (Manchester United).
Forwards: Kyle Lafferty (Kilmarnock), Josh Magennis (Hull City), Liam Boyce (Heart of Midlothian), Shayne Lavery (Linfield), Dion Charles (Accrington Stanley), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers).