Michael O’Neill believes exciting young strikers Braiden Graham and Ceadach O’Neill have “goals in them” after the duo received their maiden call-ups to the Northern Ireland squad.
Graham’s call-up comes after scoring 22 goals in 31 appearances for Everton's U21s this term and four in four outings for Everton U18s.
The former Linfield man was named in Everton’s first team on two occasions this season but was unused from the bench.
Meanwhile, O’Neill, who also played for Linfield, scored 13 goals in 17 appearances for Arsenal’s U18 side this season, two in eight outings for the U21s and two in four appearances for Arsenal’s U19s. He was also named in the first-team panel on two occasions in the FA Cup.
Braiden Graham has been called-up to the Northern Ireland senior squad for the first timeplaceholder image
Braiden Graham has been called-up to the Northern Ireland senior squad for the first time
It is fair to say a goalscoring centre forward has been Northern Ireland’s Achilles’ heel since David Healy’s retirement and O’Neill is relishing seeing the talented duo up close and personal during next month’s international window for friendlies against France and Guinea.
He told a press conference: “You guys will have seen maybe a little bit more of Braiden because he played quite a number of times here actually for Linfield before he went away...Ceadach did play in the first team at Linfield as well.
"They're both out of our academy, they've both been developed there before they went across to both Arsenal and Everton, and I think both players have goals in them there's no doubt about that.
"I think that many of you guys have written about the challenge about our centre-forward position over the past period of time, so I'm trying to address that.
"I'm trying to bring young players in to see where they sit at this moment in time. Callum Marshall comes into that category as well, who was out on loan obviously in Bundesliga 2 with Bochum.
"But for both players, I think it's an opportunity for me to get to see them first-hand, as opposed to watching videos of them playing in the 21s, getting reports from the various coaches.
"You get a feel for a player when you get the chance to work with them on the training ground and you see them first-hand.
"I think it's to show them that the pathway for them is very clear. We hope to see them progress with their clubs and establish themselves and come through and be part of the international team in the not-too-distant future.”
O’Neill has named a young squad for the double-header as several members of the panel will aim to catch his eye.
He added: “It's a very young squad...I think 11 of the team are under 21.
“If you make take the overall balance of the squad, there's probably about 75% of it are under 24, so it's a really young group.
"But it gives us the chance to look at some really young players in the likes of Ceadach (O’Neill), the likes of Braiden (Graham), and also to continue to develop the likes of Tom Atcheson and Ruairi McConville.
“The results aren't the most important things in these games.The Guinea game is something different as it fits in with our training camp well.
"Obviously we'll have a massive game in France in terms of the level of the opponent, but again, a great experience for us.”