Overview
- Northern Ireland announce a 28-man squad for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy in Bergamo on 26 March.
- Sunderland’s Dan Ballard is selected despite a hamstring scare that his club described as precautionary.
- Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley remains unavailable with the knee injury he suffered in January.
- Teenager Kieran Morrison earns a first senior call-up after cup appearances for Liverpool and 13 goals in 17 Under-21 matches.
- Pierce and Shea Charles, Ali McCann and Brodie Spencer return, and the winner will visit Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on 31 March for a place in Group B with Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.