Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee and Portsmouth forward Eoin Kenny have been handed their first Northern Ireland call-ups for November’s final Nations League matches with Ukraine and Hungary.

Mee, 23, is a former Northern Ireland underage international and, although he has not played competitively for United this season, will add competition to NI’s first choice goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

“He’s been on [Under-]21s in the past so he knows a lot of the players,” said manager Michael O’Neill.

“He’s currently third-choice at Manchester United, he’s involved obviously in their Champions League squads and I had a good chat with Johnny Evans about him. He spoke very highly of him.”

Attacker Kenny, who is the son of former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen, joined Portsmouth from Dundalk in July.

The 20-year-old has made one league appearance for the Championship club, but has been handed a first call after impressing for the Northern Ireland Under-21s under Tommy Wright.

“I think this is really a reward for a strong campaign for Tommy in the 21s,” added O’Neill.

“He made that move from from Dundalk to Portsmouth in the summer and it just gives us a chance to see him.”

Striker Dion Charles and goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell drop out of the squad.

Sunderland defender Dan Ballard is missing after he injured his hamstring in the September win over Georgia in Tbilisi, while defender Eoin Toal, midfielders Ali McCann and Jamie McDonnell are also absent through injury.

Liverpool’s Conor Bradley, who has not played since January, remains a long-term absentee.



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