Conor Bradley: Liverpool defender returns to Northern Ireland squad but Jonny Evans out
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Conor Bradley scored his first Liverpool goal against Chelsea at Anfield in the Premier League in January
Liverpool's Conor Bradley has returned to Northern Ireland's squad but Jonny Evans is out for the friendlies away to Romania and Scotland.
Bradley missed the majority of NI's Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a back injury.
Centre-back Evans, 36, has featured in Manchester United's last three matches.
NI boss Michael O'Neill said it was in Evans' "best interests" as the defender has been nursing calf and foot injuries recently.
"It gives him a longer recovery period and he has important games between now and the end of the season for Manchester United," said O'Neill.
"And with his own personal situation at the club going forward [he is out of contract in the summer], we'll go forward in March without Jonny but he is still very much a part of things."
Stevenage striker Jamie Reid earns a first call-up after impressing with 21 goals in all competitions this season.
Northern Ireland face Romania on 22 March before travelling to Hampden Park four days later.
Reid, 29, qualifies for Northern Ireland through his Belfast-born grandmother, and won two under-21 caps in 2013.
Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell is also included despite having not played since sustaining a head injury for Aarhus on 3 March.
He is one of four goalkeepers in Michael O'Neill's squad alongside Conor Hazard, Luke Southwood and Fleetwood Town teenager Stephen McMullan.
Preston midfielder Ali McCann and Portsmouth winger Paddy Lane also return to the squad.
Derby striker Conor Washington, West Ham defender Michael Forbes and Portsmouth midfielder Terry Devlin are all injured while Wycombe forward Dale Taylor has switched to the Under-21s for their games against Czech Republic and Serbia.
Full-back Bradley, 20, has established himself as a regular in Liverpool's first team since he last played for Northern Ireland in the Euro qualifying defeat by Denmark in June.
He started the EFL Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley after netting his first Premier League goal against the same opponents at the end of January at Anfield.
Bradley, who made his international debut as a 17-year-old in 2021 and has won 13 caps, also has five assists.
"He's one of the young players that is going to form the backbone of this squad for what could be as many as 10 years," O'Neill said of Bradley.
"We have seven players under the age of 21 and given Conor's form for Liverpool in recent weeks he his probably the most high profile of those at the minute."
After a disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, this month's friendlies - as well as two games in June - will serve as preparation for the start of the Nations League campaign in September.
Northern Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Aarhus, on loan from Burnley), Conor Hazard (Plymouth), Luke Southwood (Cheltenham Town), Stephen McMullan (Fleetwood Town).
Defenders: Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough), Jamal Lewis (Watford, on loan from Newcastle), Daniel Ballard (Sunderland), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Huddersfield), Eoin Toal (Bolton).
Midfielders: George Saville (Millwall), Jordan Thompson (Stoke), Alistair McCann (Preston), Shea Charles (Southampton), Conor McMenamin (St Mirren), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Isaac Price (Standard Liege), Patrick Lane (Portsmouth), Ross McCausland (Rangers), Caolan Boyd-Munce (St Mirren).
Forwards: Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic), Dion Charles (Bolton), Callum Marshall (West Brom, on loan from West Ham), Jamie Reid (Stevenage).