**Everton youngster Braiden Graham has retained his place in the senior Northern Ireland squad as the 18-year-old closes in on his first full international appearance.**
The highly-rated [Everton](https://readeverton.com/) striker has been included in Michael O’Neill’s 28-man squad for four forthcoming Nations League fixtures against Georgia, Hungary and Ukraine. Graham received his first senior call-up for the friendlies against Guinea and France in June but did not get onto the pitch, meaning he is still waiting for his debut.
His inclusion this time represents another significant show of faith from O’Neill, particularly as these are competitive internationals rather than friendlies. Northern Ireland begin their League B Group 2 campaign away to Georgia on September 25 before facing Hungary in Belfast three days later.
They then travel to Slovakia to face Ukraine on October 2, with Georgia visiting Windsor Park on October 5. That gives Graham four opportunities to earn his first senior cap after being kept around O’Neill’s squad following his involvement in June.
Graham’s progress will come as little surprise to those who have followed him at Everton. He scored 22 goals in 31 appearances for the Under-21s last season and another four in four for the Under-18s, while also training with David Moyes’ first-team squad.
He was twice named among Everton’s senior substitutes last season, against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and Sunderland in the FA Cup, although he did not make it onto the pitch. His continued involvement at international level provides another indication of how highly the young forward is regarded.
Graham is one of four teenagers in a Northern Ireland squad with an average age of just 24. Having kept his place following that first call-up in June, the next step is getting onto the pitch and earning his first senior cap.
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