Bradley and Ballard out as Hale named in NI squad

Conor Bradley and Daniel Ballard will miss March's friendlies through injury while Ronan Hale has earned a first call up

Conor Bradley and Daniel Ballard will miss Northern Ireland's friendlies with Switzerland and Sweden, while there is a first call-up for striker Ronan Hale.

Ross County's Hale has been included after his international clearance came through in January after switching his allegiance from the Republic of Ireland.

Northern Ireland host Switzerland at Windsor Park on Friday, 21 March before Michael O'Neill's side face Sweden in Stockholm four days later - with both matches available to watch on BBC Sport and BBC Northern Ireland.

Michael O'Neill has made a number of changes to his squad from November's Nations League matches.

Key defenders Bradley and Ballard are left out through injury, as is midfielder Ali McCann, while goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and striker Josh Magennis drop to the standby list.

Caolan Boyd-Munce, Jamie Reid and Jamal Lewis miss out on O'Neill's 25-man squad.

With Magennis' omission, Paddy McNair is the sole remaining player from the Euro 2016 squad as he returns from injury, while goalkeeper Conor Hazard, defenders Eoin Toal and Aaron Donnelly and forward Dale Taylor have also been recalled.

Portsmouth's Terry Devlin, who can play at right-back or in midfield, is the only uncapped player in O'Neill's squad.

Defender Bradley has not featured for Liverpool since injuring his hamstring in February's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in the Premier League, while Ballard has been sidelined for Sunderland.

"It wasn't that close, to be honest," admitted O'Neill on Bradley's availability.

"Realistically, when you have an injury of that nature you always feel it will be a minimum of four to six weeks (out).

"Conor, Dan and Ali are all big blows. They all have muscle related injuries, so I kind of knew when the injury occurred that Conor wouldn't be available."

Belfast-born Hale, who is Ross County's top scorer with 12 goals in all competitions, became eligible for Northern Ireland in January after representing the Republic of Ireland at underage level.

Goalkeeper Hazard missed NI's Nations League campaign after ankle surgery but has impressed for Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup against Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester City.

Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny and defender Ruairi McConville, who joined Norwich City from Brighton in January, have retained their places in the squad after making their international debuts in November.

Birmingham City goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell was not selected for March's friendlies

The friendlies will be preparation for the start of Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign in September, where O'Neill's side will face Slovakia, Luxembourg and the winner of the Nations League play-off between Germany and Italy.

"If we looked at the Nations League, we were in League C so we have to be mindful that the opposition as you come into a World Cup campaign is going to be more testing," added O'Neill.

"Switzerland are a pot one team, which will hopefully prepare us for either Italy or Germany, and Sweden are a very strong pot two team with strikers that most countries in Europe would be keen to have.

"The only way to give players exposure is to take on games like these. Our squad has a lot of players who are in the Championship or League One, so they will get exposure against a lot of players who play their football in the top leagues in Europe."

Northern Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle), Luke Southwood (Bolton Wanderers).

Defenders: Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Huddersfield Town), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Paddy McNair (San Diego FC), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Aaron Donnelly (Dundee).

Midfielders: George Saville (Millwall), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Shea Charles (Sheffield Wednesday - on loan from Southampton), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Leyton Orient), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace). Ross McCausland (Rangers).

Forwards: Dion Charles (Bolton Wanderers), Callum Marshall (Huddersfield Town, on loan from West Ham United), Lee Bonis (ADO Den Haag), Dale Taylor (Wigan Athletic - on loan from Nottingham Forest), Ronan Hale (Ross County).