- Ruairi McConville has been called up by Northern Ireland for the international break
- The 20-year-old defender missed last two Norwich games with a knee injury
- Northern Ireland play Italy in World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo on March 26
City’s young centre-half Ruairi McConville has been named in the latest Northern Ireland squad ahead of the Green and White Army’s upcoming World Cup qualifying play-off game against Italy later this month, despite being part of the ever-growing injury list at Carrow Road.
The Canaries captain Kenny McLean will also be on duty in the next international break after being called up by Scotland ahead of their World Cup warm-up games against Japan and Côte d’Ivoire.
Late call for Southampton clash
But despite his call-up for his national team, McConville hasn’t played much football as of late in the yellow and green of Norwich. The defender has missed the last two games – home wins against Sheffield United and Preston North End – with a knee injury.
City boss Philippe Clement said in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the Canaries clash with Southampton on Wednesday night that it will be a late matchday call as to whether McConville will be involved or not at St. Mary’s Stadium.
McConville has played for his country at U16, U17, U19 and U21 levels before he received his first call-up in November of 2024 when playing for Brighton and Hove Albion. He currently has seven full caps to his name.
Ruairi set for Northern Ireland playoff
Michael O’Neill – who is combining his international duties with being the man in the dugout for Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers – has named the 20-year-old in his latest 28-man squad for the trip to Bergamo on March 26.
If they are to be the winners of that semi-final, Northern Ireland will travel to play either Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina in the play-off final on March 31, to decide who qualifies for the tournament in North America this summer.
