Michael O'Neill has handed call-ups to 28 players as Northern Ireland prepare to launch their 2026 UEFA Nations League B campaign, with young forwards Ceadach O'Neill and Braiden Graham both retaining their places in the squad.
The expanded group reflects a demanding schedule ahead, with the team set to play four matches inside an 11-day window. That represents a notable increase from the 23 players selected for the previous international break in June.
Northern Ireland's return to Nations League B action comes after securing promotion from the third tier last season. The campaign begins with a trip to Georgia on 25 September, before a home fixture against Hungary in Belfast. The side will then travel to Slovakia to face Ukraine, ahead of a final home clash against Georgia on 5 October that will close out the window.
O'Neill's squad selection was shaped in part by a lengthy list of absentees. Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley remains sidelined, having not featured since January following knee surgery. He is joined on the injury list by Preston North End's Ali McCann and Aberdeen midfielder Brad Lyons, both of whom miss out on selection for this window.
Despite those setbacks, O'Neill has been able to call upon a broad pool of talent across all positions. The goalkeeping options include Pierce Charles, Conor Hazard and Bailey Peacock-Farrell, while the back line features experienced figures such as Paddy McNair and Dan Ballard alongside emerging talents like Trai Hume, Eoin Toal and Brodie Spencer.
In midfield, O'Neill can call on the likes of Jordan Thompson, Shea Charles and Justin Devenny, with Paul Smyth and Ethan Galbraith also included among a competitive group of options. Up front, alongside O'Neill and Graham, the squad includes Josh Magennis, Jamie Donley, Dion Charles and Callum Marshall, giving the manager a variety of attacking choices for the four fixtures.
The manager has also named goalkeepers Luke Southwood and Josh Clarke, plus striker Jamie Reid, as standby players should injuries or other issues arise during the busy stretch of matches.
With so many games packed into such a short period, squad depth and rotation are likely to play a significant role in how Northern Ireland approach the campaign. The mix of established internationals and younger prospects such as O'Neill and Graham suggests the manager is keen to balance experience with fresh energy as his side embarks on this new Nations League chapter.
Having earned promotion last term, Northern Ireland will be aiming to build on that momentum and establish themselves in the higher tier. The double-header against Georgia bookending the window will likely prove pivotal, while the matches against Hungary and Ukraine represent stern tests against sides with strong pedigree in the competition.
Attention will now turn to how O'Neill deploys his large squad across the congested fixture list, with team selection and fitness management set to be key factors in determining Northern Ireland's early Nations League B form.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.