McConville called into NI squad but McNair injured

Uncapped Brighton defender Ruairi McConville has been called up to the Northern Ireland squad for the forthcoming Nations League matches against Belarus and Luxembourg.

The 19-year-old centre-back is captain of Northern Ireland Under-19s and also skippers his club's Under-21 side.

McConville's inclusion comes as Sunderland defender Dan Ballard returns to the squad after injury.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill is without injured defenders Paddy McNair and Eoin Toal for the double-header against the Belarusians in Belfast on 15 November and Luxembourg away three days later.

Birmingham goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell returns to the panel after missing both October games.

Defender Kofi Balmer and striker Lee Bonis retain their places after being called up for the matches against Belarus and Bulgaria in October.

Ross County's Ronan Hale has yet to receive his international clearance after deciding to switch his allegiance from the Republic of Ireland, who he represented at underage level, to Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland sit top of Group C3 on seven points, one point ahead of Belarus and two ahead of Bulgaria.

O'Neill's side defeated Luxembourg 2-0 in Belfast in September, followed by a 1-0 loss in Bulgaria three days later.

In October, they drew 0-0 against Belarus in Hungary and then secured a swashbuckling 5-0 win over Bulgaria at Windsor Park, with Isaac Price scoring a hat-trick.

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Birmingham City), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Luke Southwood (Bolton Wanderers).

Defenders: Jamal Lewis (Sao Paulo, on loan from Newcastle United), Daniel Ballard (Sunderland), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Huddersfield Town), Kofi Balmer (Motherwell), Ruairi McConville (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Midfielders: George Saville (Millwall), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Shea Charles (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Southampton), Isaac Price (Standard Liege), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Ross McCausland (Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Leyton Orient), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Caolan Boyd-Munce (St Mirren).

Forwards: Josh Magennis (Exeter City), Dion Charles (Bolton Wanderers), Callum Marshall (Huddersfield Town, on loan from West Ham United), Jamie Reid (Stevenage), Lee Bonis (ADO Den Haag).