Young Liverpool winger in line for Northern Ireland chance

ByAndy Gray

BBC Sport NI Journalist

Just five days after their World Cup dreams came to an end, Wales and Northern Ireland face off in what is surely one of the most unappealing friendlies in history.

It's a game neither team wanted, but Tuesday's game in Cardiff will offer the opportunity for new faces to be blooded with one eye on future qualification campaigns.

The average age of Northern Ireland's starting team in the 2-0 defeat by Italy was just 22.5, which was the second youngest on record since the second World War.

In fact, Paddy McNair was the only player over the age of 24 in Michael O'Neill's starting XI.

With little on the line, who could get the chance to impress for Northern Ireland?

Kieran Morrison has only made two senior appearances for Liverpool, but the 19-year-old earned a first call-up to Michael O'Neill's squad for this international window.

Morrison, who can play on the wing or deeper in midfield, featured for Arne Slot's side in the EFL Cup loss to Crystal Palace, and against against Wolves in the FA Cup.

It is for Liverpool's Premier League 2 side where Morrison has really impressed this season, however, as he has been handed the captain’s armband by former Wales boss Rob Page.

When the squad was announced, O'Neill said it was the "right time" to have a look at the versatile teenager.

He was not involved in the matchday 23 in Italy, but will be tipped to play a part on Tuesday, whether that is from the start or off the bench.

Tom Atcheson was a late call-up into the Northern Ireland squad after Dan Ballard's withdrawal through injury.

The centre-back is a known quantity for O'Neill, who manages him at Blackburn Rovers.

The 19-year-old was named man-of-the-match in Rovers' goalless draw with Championship front runners Middlesbrough before the international break.

He has been capped by Northern Ireland at underage level, and he could make his senior bow in Cardiff.

The majority of Callum Marshall's 14 Northern Ireland caps have come off the bench, and when he has made an appearance it has often been on the wing.

Smaller in stature than O'Neill's other striking options, the 21-year-old offers a different profile to the likes of Jamie Donley, Jamie Reid or Josh Magennis.

Marshall made his Premier League debut for West Ham earlier in the season, but joined Bundesliga 2 side VfL Bouchum on loan in January.

It was a move that O'Neill described as "brave", and the 21-year-old has scored two goals in 10 appearances in Germany.

Is this a chance for Marshall to get a run out in his favoured central role on the international stage?

From the Irish League to the international stage, Patrick Kelly won his sole Northern Ireland cap in November's win over Luxembourg.

The midfielder started his career at Coleraine and made the move to West Ham in 2022, before a loan spell at Doncaster Rovers.

Kelly then made a permanent switch to Barnsley, where he has made 31 appearances in League One this season.

With Ali McCann ruled out of the game in Italy, and Shea Charles and Ethan Galbraith likely to have their minutes managed ahead of a busy end to the season with the clubs, Kelly could be handed another opportunity by O'Neill.

Another midfielder who could benefit from the friendly in Wales is Jamie McDonnell.

The 22-year-old was not included in O'Neill's matchday squad, but could be brought into the fold for Tuesday's game.

He hasn't played a full 90 minutes for Oxford since the start of February, however, and recently came back from an ankle injury.

McDonnell has won two caps and made his debut off the bench in the cauldron in Germany, before his first start at home to Luxembourg.