Northern Ireland: Conor McMenamin, Charlie McCann, Brodie Spencer and Shea Charles four new call-ups

McMenamin joined Glentoran from Cliftonville in January 2021

Glentoran winger Conor McMenamin is among four new call-ups to the Northern Ireland squad for the upcoming Nations League quadruple-header.

Huddersfield Town defender Brodie Spencer, Man City midfielder Shea Charles and Rangers midfielder Charlie McCann are also in the senior international squad for the first time.

Captain Steven Davis and experienced defender Jonny Evans are included by manager Ian Baraclough, while Craig Cathcart and Corry Evans are out of what is a youthful 28-man panel.

Baraclough said Cathcart and Evans have been rested after long seasons, while Stuart Dallas, Josh Magennis, Jordan Jones and Jamal Lewis are missing due to injuries. Young Manchester United midfielder Ethan Galbraith is also not in the squad.

Striker Kyle Lafferty returns after impressing for Kilmarnock in the second half of the season. The 34-year-old helped them secure the Scottish Championship title and, having joined in January, has signed a new deal to stay next season.

Kyle Lafferty will be hoping to revive his international career in these Nations League matches

Hearts pair Liam Boyce and Michael Smith have once again made themselves unavailable for selection, despite Baraclough reaching out to them ahead of last week's Scottish Cup final.

Northern Ireland have been relegated to League C of the Nations League and open their Group 2 campaign against Greece at Windsor Park on Thursday night before playing Cyprus away three days later.

Baraclough's side then face another away fixture, against Kosovo, on Thursday 9 June before their fourth fixture at home to Cyprus three days later.

McMenamin, 26, has not played for Northern Ireland at any level but impressed after being called up to the senior squad for a four-day training camp in England last week. Young uncapped Glenavon goalkeeper Josh Clarke is included again, having been called up for the friendlies in March.

City youngster Charles has previously been involved with Northern Ireland Under-17s, Under-19s and Under-21s, while Spencer has played at Under-17 and Under-19 level. McCann made his international debut for the Under-21s in March.

Charlton Athletic forward Conor Washington and Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley are back after missing the March friendlies through injury.

McMenamin 'could play in England or Scotland'

Baraclough said in February that he would be happy to select players from the Irish League and has done so by including McMenamin and Clarke.

He was full of praise for the impact McMenamin made at last week's training camp at St George's Park and said he believes the former Cliftonville man could play at a higher level.

"It is recognition for Conor being one of the best players in the Irish League this year. Scoring 23 goals is a great feat for him, he came away with a great attitude last week and showed up really well," he said.

"Conor perhaps thought that it [playing for Northern Ireland] had past him by but he has had a great season, I can see some of the qualities that he has got.

"He can play at a higher level. Mick McDermott [Glens manager] and Glentoran might not want me to say it but I think he can play in England or Scotland at whatever level, and clubs should be looking at the Irish League.

"He came in last week nursing an injury but got through all the sessions, showed real battling qualities and that is the kind of character I want to have around the squad."

Toughest test as international manager

Baraclough has been in charge of Northern Ireland for almost two years

Having taken over as manager in June 2020, Baraclough's reign has included a number of challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He now has to navigate four matches in 10 games with a squad missing a number of experienced players, and has warned about the damaging effects the workload could have on players at the end of a tough season.

"These four games are going to be testing, no doubt. I've said that it will the toughest international window that I will have managed so far," commented.

"It is going to be a real test because you can see the players that we are missing who have been real stalwarts for us.

"I think it is going to be a problem that maybe Uefa have caused. It is an all-year-round game now. I see the head of the PFA was saying that players are at real risk, and the likes of Uefa and Fifa have got to look at these periods now where they are asking players to keep going to the well. Fatigue will be a factor."

He added: "Whether it is the physical or the mental side of the game, coming off the back of Covid, these players have been going for two years. For some it is just too much and at some stage something has to drop."

Northern Ireland squad:

Goalkeepers - Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Sheffield Wednesday), Trevor Carson (St Mirren), Luke Southwood (Reading), Josh Clarke (Glenavon).

Defenders - Daniel Ballard (Arsenal), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Caolan Boyd-Munce (Middlesbrough), Ciaron Brown (Cardiff City), Jonny Evans (Leicester City), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough), Brodie Spencer (Huddersfield Town).

Midfielders - Steven Davis and Charlie McCann (both Rangers), Shea Charles (Manchester City), Liam Donnelly (Motherwell), Alfie McCalmont (Leeds United), Ali McCann (Preston North End), Niall McGinn (Dundee), George Saville (Millwall), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Paddy Lane (Fleetwood Town).

Forwards - Dion Charles (Bolton Wanderers), Kyle Lafferty (Kilmarnock), Shayne Lavery (Blackpool), Conor McMenamin (Glentoran), Conor Washington (Charlton Athletic), Gavin Whyte (Cardiff City).

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