Wanderers skipper Eoin Toal retained in NI squad for friendly against Wales

EOIN Toal has remained with the Northern Ireland squad for their friendly against Wales in Cardiff tonight.

National boss Michael O’Neill announced yesterday that four of his squad had been given special dispensation to return to their clubs ahead of the Easter weekend.

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Blackpool goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Preston’s Ali McCann, Hull City’s Paddy McNair and Norwich’s Ruairi McConville have all returned after defeat against Italy in the World Cup play-off semi-final.

Toal will feature in the squad to face Wales and may line-up against club team-mate Josh Sheehan, who did not feature for his country in their semi-final penalty shootout exit to Bosnia.

Full Wales squad: Goalkeepers – Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Josh Clarke (Partick Thistle, on loan from Celtic).

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Defenders – Ciaron Brown and Brodie Spencer (both Oxford United), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Tom Atcheson (Blackburn Rovers).

Midfielders – Jamie Donley and Jamie McDonnell (both Oxford United), George Saville (Luton Town), Shea Charles (Southampton), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley), Kieran Morrison (Liverpool).

Forwards – Josh Magennis (Exeter City), Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town), Callum Marshall (Vfl Bochum, on loan from West Ham United), Jamie Reid (Stevenage).

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Johnny Kenny is likely to feature for Ireland as they host North Macedonia in a friendly in Dublin. They lost a World Cup play-off on penalties to the Czech Republic and will be without Robbie Brady, Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor. Luton’s Millenic Alli has joined the squad as a replacement.

Full Ireland squad: Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Brentford), Mark Travers (Everton), Josh Keeley (Luton Town).

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Jimmy Dunne (QPR), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Jake O'Brien (Everton), John Egan (Hull City), James Abankwah (Watford), Liam Scales (Celtic), Ryan Manning (Southampton).

Midfielders: Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Browne (Middlesbrough), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Finn Azaz (Southampton), Harvey Vale (QPR), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City).

Attackers: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Adam Idah (Swansea City), Johnny Kenny (Bolton Wanderers, on loan from Celtic), Chiedozie Ogbene (Sheffield United, on loan from Ipswich Town), Millenic Alli (Portsmouth, on loan from Luton Town).

Meanwhile, Thierry Gale did not feature for Barbados in their 3-2 defeat against St Vincent and the Grenadines in Bonaire.

That result followed a 3-1 defeat to St Martin last Thursday.

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