Leeds goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Crusaders midfielder Gavin Whyte are among the uncapped players in Northern Ireland’s 22-man squad for the away friendlies with Panama and Costa Rica.
Michael O’Neill has named four players that are yet to make their senior debuts in a group that is without captain Steven Davis, Kyle Lafferty and Jamie Ward.
Peacock-Farrell ended the campaign as Leeds’ number one and has been part of O’Neill’s groups previously without featuring, with Whyte, who is expected to move to an English club this summer, having graduated from the under-21s.
⚽️ Squad to face Panama & Costa Rica ? Welcome @bailey_pf , @GavinWhyte23 & @CamMcGeehan #GAWA pic.twitter.com/bykcgOLtaJ
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) May 16, 2018
“We have watched Gavin Whyte for the last three years,” O’Neill said in quotes published on Northern Ireland’s Twitter feed.
“He’s on the verge of a move to England and we hope this inclusion helps him.
“Bailey Peacock-Farrell has been a work in process. He has taken his chance at Leeds. It’s important now to see him in the squad.”
Cameron McGeehan has previously represented Northern Ireland youth teams but has not been on the international scene since he turned down an under-21 call-up three years ago.
O’Neill: “We have watched Gavin Whyte for the last three years. He’s on the verge of a move to England and we hope this inclusion helps him.” #GAWA pic.twitter.com/Pn3ZbNT9Tr
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) May 16, 2018
Now with Barnsley, he has spent the second half of this campaign on loan with Scunthorpe.
“Cameron has been in our youth setup, he’s a player that has been injury hit,” O’Neill added.
“It’s a chance for a fresh face to come and see what he’s about.”
West Brom’s Jonny Evans will captain the team in Davis’ absence and veteran defenders Gareth McAuley, Aaron Hughes and Craig Cathcart will also travel.
Doncaster’s Luke McCullough, who was in the squad at Euro 2016, returns to the fold and Fulham loanee Oliver Norwood has been named despite the fact he will be hoping to be involved in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on the day the rest of the team fly out.
Young goalkeeper Conor Hazard, who is on the books at Celtic, is the other uncapped player in the squad.
Northern Ireland face Panama, who will be in England’s World Cup group, on May 30 before meeting Costa Rica in San Jose on June 3.
Northern Ireland squad: Trevor Carson (Motherwell), Conor Hazard (Celtic), Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Leeds); Aaron Hughes (Hearts), Gareth McAuley (West Brom), Jonny Evans (West Brom), Craig Cathcart (Watford), Conor McLaughlin (Millwall), Lee Hodson (Rangers), Luke McCullough (Doncaster); Oliver Norwood (Brighton), Corry Evans (Blackburn), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Stuart Dallas (Leeds), Paddy McNair (Sunderland), George Saville (Millwall), Gavin Whyte (Crusaders), Cameron McGeehan (Barnsley); Josh Magennis (Charlton), Liam Boyce (Burton), Paul Smyth (QPR), Shay McCartan (Bradford).
