Mee and Kenny handed first Northern Ireland call-ups

What the report says

Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee and Portsmouth forward Eoin Kenny have been named in Northern Ireland’s squad for the first time ahead of their November Nations League matches against Ukraine and Hungary, BBC Sport Football reported. Mee, 23, is a former Northern Ireland underage international, while Kenny, 20, joined Portsmouth from Dundalk in July and has made one league appearance for the Championship club.

The call-ups come as several players drop out of Michael O’Neill’s squad through injury or absence. BBC Sport reported that Dion Charles, Eoin Toal and goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell are out, while Sunderland defender Dan Ballard, midfielders Ali McCann and Jamie McDonnell, and Liverpool’s Conor Bradley are also unavailable or long-term absentees.

Northern Ireland are unbeaten at the top of their Nations League group and could secure promotion to the top tier for the first time. They have yet to concede in the competition this season, with earlier results including a 3-0 win over Ukraine and draws with Hungary and Georgia. The team host Ukraine at Windsor Park on 14 November before travelling to Hungary on 17 November, with both matches shown on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.

BBC Sport added that if Northern Ireland finish top, they would move up to League A and would be close to securing a play-off place for Euro 2028.