Northern Ireland Senior Men: Ballard in squad despite hamstring scare
The defender went off injured while playing Sunderland on Saturday
Sunderland defender Dan Ballard's been included in Northern Ireland's squad for their World Cup qualifying play-off against Italy - despite suffering an injury scare.
He went off in Saturday's Premier League defeat against Brighton with a hamstring problem.
Michael O'Neill's handed a first senior call-up to 19-year-old Liverpool winger Kieran Morrison.
The 19-year-old, who has previously played for his country at Under-16, U17, U19 and U21 level, earns his first senior call-up after impressing with Liverpool U21s this season.
Morrison made his full debut for Liverpool when he started against Crystal Palace in the League Cup back in November and he also made an appearance as a substitute in an FA Cup tie against Wolves earlier this month.
They play Italy in their play-off semi-final and - if they win that - will face either Wales or Bosnia to book their place at this summer's tournament.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers – Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham City), Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Josh Clarke (Partick Thistle, on loan from Celtic).
Defenders – Daniel Ballard andTrai Hume (both Sunderland), Ciaron Brown and Brodie Spencer (both Oxford United), Paddy McNair (Hull City), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth).
Midfielders – Jamie Donley and Jamie McDonnell (both Oxford United), George Saville (Luton Town), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Shea Charles (Southampton), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley), Kieran Morrison (Liverpool).
Forwards – Josh Magennis (Exeter City), Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town), Callum Marshall (Vfl Bochum, on loan from West Ham United), Jamie Reid (Stevenage).