Brown and Jones return to Northern Ireland squad

6 months ago 118

Jones made his Northern Ireland debut during Michael O'Neill's first reign as manager

Wigan Athletic winger Jordan Jones and Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown have been included in the Northern Ireland squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Finland and Denmark.

Both players missed the October matches against San Marino and Slovenia.

Jones made a substitute appearance for his country in September's defeat in Kazakhstan after returning following a long absence.

Winger Gavin Whyte is again left out of the squad.

Manager Michael O'Neill has selected teenage midfielder Shea Charles, who will be suspended for the first match away to Finland on 17 November.

After playing the Finns in Helsinki, Northern Ireland welcome Denmark to Belfast's Windsor Park three days later for the final match of what has been a challenging Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

O'Neill's side have won just twice, at home and away to San Marino, with defeats in the other six matches leaving them second from bottom in the Group H table.

The experienced Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas and Corry Evans are once again unavailable through injury, as they have been for the whole campaign, while Liverpool teenager Conor Bradley is also still out.

Preston midfielder Ali McCann is still unavailable because of the calf issue that ruled him out of the San Marino and Slovenia games.

Northern Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Aarhus, on loan from Burnley), Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle), Luke Southwood (Cheltenham Town).

Defenders: Jonny Evans (Manchester United), Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough), Jamal Lewis (Watford, on loan from Newcastle United), Daniel Ballard (Sunderland), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Motherwell, on loan from Huddersfield Town), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers).

Midfielders: George Saville (Millwall), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Shea Charles (Southampton), Conor McMenamin (St Mirren), Jordan Jones (Wigan Athletic), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Isaac Price (Standard Liege), Matthew Kennedy (Kilmarnock), Dale Taylor (Wycombe Wanderers, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Paddy Lane (Portsmouth), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock).

Forwards: Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic), Conor Washington (Derby County), Dion Charles (Bolton Wanderers), Callum Marshall (West Ham United).

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