Northern Ireland’s Youthful Squad Return to League B Amid Forward Absence

While the defeat to Italy in March was understandably disappointing, there remains a prevailing belief that this squad’s strongest opportunity for qualifying for a major tournament lies in the years ahead.

Of the starting eleven who featured in Bergamo, only Hull City’s 31-year-old defender, Paddy McNair, is older than 26.

The 28-man squad selected last week has an average age of just 24, a demographic further underscored by the inclusion of four teenagers—Ceadach O’Neill, Kieran Morrison, Braiden Graham, and Tom Atcheson—giving the panel a distinctly youthful profile.

In addition to McNair, the only other players in the squad older than 30 are central striking options Dion Charles, 30, and Josh Magennis, 36.

O’Neill, however, is expected to continue pairing the experienced options up top with the 21-year-old Jamie Donley as the team builds towards upcoming qualification campaigns.

The Tottenham Hotspur forward has scored twice in 10 international appearances and started the last five matches for Northern Ireland; however, he endured a difficult 2025-26 club season while on loan at Stoke City and Oxford United.

Despite featuring for Spurs during pre-season, he will spend the current campaign on loan at Luton Town in League One, a club where he previously impressed during the 2024-25 season with Leyton Orient.

“What happened with Jamie last year was not his fault,” said O’Neill.

“The playing time at Stoke was, in my opinion, unfair to the player. He unfortunately suffered an injury in his first game on his second loan spell, but the matches he did feature in, he performed well.”

“I believe the most important thing for Jamie is to play regularly. He possesses all the attributes of a top young player. He remains a Tottenham player under a long-term contract, and I think he has moved to a very good club in Luton.”

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