Who Could Get Northern Ireland Chance In Wales?

ByAndy Gray

BBC Sport NI Journalist

Just 5 days aft their World Cup dreams came to an end, Wales and Northern Ireland look disconnected successful what is surely 1 of nan astir unappealing friendlies successful history.

It's a crippled neither squad wanted, but Tuesday's crippled successful Cardiff will connection nan opportunity for caller faces to beryllium blooded pinch 1 oculus connected early qualification campaigns.

The mean property of Northern Ireland's starting squad successful nan 2-0 conclusion by Italy was conscionable 22.5, which was nan 2nd youngest connected grounds since nan 2nd World War.

In fact, Paddy McNair was nan only subordinate complete nan property of 24 successful Michael O'Neill's starting XI.

With small connected nan line, who could get nan chance to impressment for Northern Ireland?

Kieran Morrison has only made 2 elder appearances for Liverpool, but nan 19-year-old earned a first call-up to Michael O'Neill's squad for this world window.

Morrison, who tin play connected nan helping aliases deeper successful midfield, featured for Arne Slot's broadside successful nan EFL Cup nonaccomplishment to Crystal Palace, and against against Wolves successful nan FA Cup.

It is for Liverpool's Premier League 2 broadside wherever Morrison has really impressed this season, however, arsenic he has been handed nan captain’s armband by erstwhile Wales leader Rob Page.

When nan squad was announced, O'Neill said it was nan "right time" to person a look astatine nan versatile teenager.

He was not progressive successful nan matchday 23 successful Italy, but will beryllium tipped to play a portion connected Tuesday, whether that is from nan commencement aliases disconnected nan bench.

Tom Atcheson was a precocious call-up into nan Northern Ireland squad aft Dan Ballard's withdrawal done injury.

The centre-back is simply a known amount for O'Neill, who manages him astatine Blackburn Rovers.

The 19-year-old was named man-of-the-match successful Rovers' goalless tie pinch Championship beforehand runners Middlesbrough earlier nan world break.

He has been capped by Northern Ireland astatine underage level, and he could make his elder front successful Cardiff.

The mostly of Callum Marshall's 14 Northern Ireland caps person travel disconnected nan bench, and erstwhile he has made an quality it has often been connected nan wing.

Smaller successful stature than O'Neill's different striking options, nan 21-year-old offers a different floor plan to nan likes of Jamie Donley, Jamie Reid aliases Josh Magennis.

Marshall made his Premier League debut for West Ham earlier successful nan season, but joined Bundesliga 2 broadside VfL Bouchum connected indebtedness successful January.

It was a move that O'Neill described arsenic "brave", and nan 21-year-old has scored 2 goals successful 10 appearances successful Germany.

Is this a chance for Marshall to get a tally retired successful his favoured cardinal domiciled connected nan world stage?

From nan Irish League to nan world stage, Patrick Kelly won his sole Northern Ireland headdress successful November's triumph complete Luxembourg.

The midfielder started his profession astatine Coleraine and made nan move to West Ham successful 2022, earlier a indebtedness spell astatine Doncaster Rovers.

Kelly past made a imperishable move to Barnsley, wherever he has made 31 appearances successful League One this season.

With Ali McCann ruled retired of nan crippled successful Italy, and Shea Charles and Ethan Galbraith apt to person their minutes managed up of a engaged extremity to nan play pinch nan clubs, Kelly could beryllium handed different opportunity by O'Neill.

Another midfielder who could use from nan friends successful Wales is Jamie McDonnell.

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

He hasn't played a afloat 90 minutes for Oxford since nan commencement of February, however, and precocious came backmost from an ankle injury.

McDonnell has won 2 caps and made his debut disconnected nan chair successful nan cauldron successful Germany, earlier his first commencement astatine location to Luxembourg.