Wanderers skipper Eoin Toal has been named in the Northern Ireland squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Michael O’Neill’s side have a couple of home fixtures against Slovakia on Friday, October 10 and Germany three days later.
Toal started both of the qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany last month as Northern Ireland took three points from their opening matches.
The centre-back, who took on the captain’s armband at Bolton following George Thomason’s move to Wrexham, has won 10 caps to date on the international stage.
Toal has been on the bench for Wanderers’ past few League One games, with Chris Forino and George Johnston getting the nod at the heart of defence. However, he did start the win against Manchester City Under-21s in the Vertu Trophy last week.
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There are a number of ex-Bolton players joining Toal in the latest squad including Luke Southwood, Conor Bradley, Dion Charles and Josh Magennis.
Full Northern Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham City), Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle), Luke Southwood (Bristol Rovers).
Defenders: Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume (both Sunderland), Ciaron Brown and Brodie Spencer (both Oxford United), Paddy McNair (San Diego), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Ryan Johnson (AFC Wimbledon).
Midfielders: 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), Ross McCausland (Aris Limassol, on loan from Rangers), Jamie Donley (Stoke City, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie McDonnell (Mansfield Town, on loan from Nottingham Forest).
Forwards: Josh Magennis (Exeter City), Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town), Callum Marshall (West Ham United), Jamie Reid (Stevenage).
Elsewhere, the Finland squad has been revealed but there is no place for Middlesbrough loanee Marcus Forss.
Forss has experience on the international stage but hasn’t represented his country since the 2023/24 campaign.
The forward was handed a first start for the Whites against Wigan and made an immediate impact, bagging a brace. He also started at Northampton last weekend.
Josh Sheehan was called up to the Wales squad earlier this week. Toal and Sheehan both missed the win against Wimbledon last month while away with their respective nations, and Wanderers have a trip to Burton Albion scheduled for Saturday, October 11.
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