League One midfielder gets first Northern Ireland call-up from Michael O’Neill

Michael O’Neill has named his squad for Northern Ireland’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg

Michael O’Neill has called up Barnsley’s Patrick Kelly to his first Northern Ireland squad for the first time to bolster the midfield ahead of their final World Cup qualifiers this month.

Shea Charles and Ali McCann are both sidelined for the matches against Slovakia away and Luxembourg at home due to injuries, while Ethan Galbraith is suspended for the journey to Kosice, leaving O’Neill with limited choices for two crucial games that will determine Northern Ireland’s standing in Group A.

All three would have been certain starters based on their recent performances, but Southampton’s Charles is dealing with a hamstring injury and Preston’s McCann has a broken arm. Charles joins his brother Pierce, the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, on the injury list as O’Neill’s squad faces late-stage setbacks.

This has paved the way for Kelly, who joined Barnsley this summer after a three-year stint at West Ham since departing Coleraine as a teenager in 2022, spending the previous season on loan at Doncaster. The 21-year-old, who has earned 12 caps at under-21 level, has made 13 appearances for the Tykes.

Oxford defender Brodie Spencer is also absent due to a foot injury. Kilmarnock’s Brad Lyons makes a comeback after missing last month’s fixtures against Slovakia and Germany through injury.

These are the only alterations from last month, with the Premier League foursome of Conor Bradley, Daniel Ballard, Trai Hume and Justin Devenny included alongside the likes of Isaac Price and Paddy McNair.

Northern Ireland are set to face a challenging match in Kosice on 14 November, trailing both Germany and Slovakia by three points and needing a victory to keep their group stage hopes alive.

Despite the pressure, even if they don’t succeed, they’re almost certain to secure a qualifying play-off spot thanks to their Nations League group win last year.

The team, led by O’Neill, will conclude their Group A campaign with a home game against Luxembourg on 17 November.

Northern Ireland squad: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham), Conor Hazard (Plymouth), Luke Southwood (Bristol Rovers); Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume (both Sunderland), Paddy McNair (San Diego), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Ciaron Brown (Oxford), Eoin Toal (Bolton), Ruairi McConville (Norwich), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Ryan Johnson (Wimbledon); George Saville (Luton), Isaac Price (West Brom), Paul Smyth (QPR), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Ross McCausland (Aris Limassol, on loan from Rangers), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Jamie Donley (Stoke, on loan from Tottenham), Jamie McDonnell (Mansfield, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley); Josh Magennis (Exeter), Dion Charles (Huddersfield), Callum Marshall (West Ham), Jamie Reid (Stevenage).

Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the latest sports news, headlines and top stories.