O'Neill to name Northern Ireland squad for four-game test
Michael O'Neill will name his Northern Ireland squad on Tuesday for a four-game sprint that starts in Georgia and finishes against Georgia 11 days later.
The window opens with an away trip to Georgia on 25 September. Northern Ireland then face Hungary in Belfast and Ukraine in Slovakia, before Georgia come to Belfast on 5 October, according to BBC Sport.
Four internationals in one break is unusual. The last time Northern Ireland did it was in the summer of 2022, when they played four Nations League games in 11 days. The Nations League is UEFA's competition that groups national teams by ranking, with promotion and relegation between leagues.
Fitness will shape O'Neill's choices. Conor Bradley has not played for club or country since knee surgery in January. The full-back, who plays his club football for Liverpool, has missed six of Northern Ireland's past 14 games through injury and one more through suspension.
Midfield is also stretched. Ali McCann damaged his hamstring in Preston's 4-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Everton. Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom said his captain would be out for months.
There is better news in attack. Justin Devenny marked his first start for Stoke since his move from Crystal Palace with two goals. The winger only made his Northern Ireland debut in June 2025 and is pushing for a bigger role.
Jamie Donley has become central to O'Neill's plans. He started as centre-forward in the past five games and scored against Luxembourg and Wales. A centre-forward leads the line through the middle, and Donley has held that spot.
Youth will be part of the conversation too. Kieran Morrison, Ceadach O'Neill and Braiden Graham were all in the squad in June. Morrison and Ceadach O'Neill made their debuts in the friendly win over Guinea. Morrison is spending this season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Liverpool.
The context is a step up. Northern Ireland won promotion to League B for the first time after topping League C Group 3 with 11 points from six games, as confirmed by the Irish Football Association. O'Neill has also committed his future, signing a four-year extension in May that keeps him in charge until 2032.
What makes this stand out is the load. Four games demand a deeper squad. Form, fitness and fresh legs will matter as much as first-choice picks.
For fans, this means a quick read on where Northern Ireland stand. Two games against Georgia will shape the group. Hungary at home and Ukraine on neutral ground in Slovakia will test the squad's depth.
