Teenager McConville called into NI squad but McNair injured

Ruairi McConville is part of Gareth McAuley's Northern Ireland Under-19 squad

Uncapped Brighton defender Ruairi McConville has been called up to the Northern Ireland squad for the first time for Nations League matches against Belarus and Luxembourg.

The 19-year-old centre-back is captain of Northern Ireland Under-19s and plays for his club's Under-21 side.

McConville has also previously played for his country's Under-17 and Under-16 teams.

Sunderland defender Dan Ballard returns to the squad after injury but Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill will be without Paddy McNair and Eoin Toal for the double-header because of hamstring injuries.

Northern Ireland will host Belarus in Belfast on 15 November before travelling to face Luxembourg three days later.

"They [McNair and Toal] started both games in October in a back three so we've two of our original back three unavailable to us," O'Neill told BBC Sport NI.

"We hope that Daniel will come back in, he's back training with Sunderland - we would need his experience to help us in that situation.

"Trai has been a mainstay for us in that back three and Ciaron Brown is an option for us as well."

O'Neill added that teenager McConville is a player that he has been keeping close tabs on.

"Ruairi is a player we've wanted to try and get in for a little bit. Gareth [McAuley, NI Under-19 manager] rates the lad and Tommy [Wright] has had him in the Under-21s.

"He's at a club where they develop players as well as any and it's a chance for us to bring him in and get our eyes on him. He comes with glowing references."

Peacock-Farrell back after injury

Birmingham goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell returns to the panel after missing the October games against Belarus and Bulgaria.

Defender Kofi Balmer and striker Lee Bonis retain their places.

Mansfield Town goalkeeper Christy Pym, a late call-up last month, switches to the standby list.

Ross County's Ronan Hale is not included as he awaits international clearance after deciding to switch allegiance from the Republic of Ireland, whom he represented at age-group level.

Northern Ireland sit top of Group C3 on seven points, one point ahead of Belarus and two ahead of Bulgaria.

O'Neill's side defeated Luxembourg 2-0 in Belfast in September, followed by a 1-0 loss in Bulgaria three days later.

In October, they drew 0-0 against Belarus in Hungary and then secured a swashbuckling 5-0 win over Bulgaria at Windsor Park, with Isaac Price scoring a hat-trick.

Northern Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Birmingham City), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Luke Southwood (Bolton Wanderers).

Defenders: Jamal Lewis (Sao Paulo, on loan from Newcastle United), Daniel Ballard (Sunderland), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Huddersfield Town), Kofi Balmer (Motherwell), Ruairi McConville (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Midfielders: George Saville (Millwall), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Shea Charles (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Southampton), Isaac Price (Standard Liege), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Ross McCausland (Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Leyton Orient), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Caolan Boyd-Munce (St Mirren).

Forwards: Josh Magennis (Exeter City), Dion Charles (Bolton Wanderers), Callum Marshall (Huddersfield Town, on loan from West Ham United), Jamie Reid (Stevenage), Lee Bonis (ADO Den Haag).