Millar names squad for friendly

Thomas Stewart is named in the NI U21 squad

Northern Ireland U21 manager Roy Millar has named a strong squad for next Wednesday's friendly against Romania at the Ballymena Showgrounds (1400 GMT).

Michael O'Connor is missing following his call-up to the senior squad and Tottenham's Kieran McKenna is injured.

A number of Irish League players have been selected and their positions will be assessed after Easter Tuesday's full programme of Carnegie Premier matches.

The U21s face a vital Euro qualifying game against Germany in September.

Millar's squad currently lead their qualifying table but their hopes suffered a huge setback when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Israel in February.

Northern Ireland's hopes of qualification now rest on the results of other games and that must-win encounter with the Germans.

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N Ireland U21 squad: Tuffey (Partick Thistle), Carson (Sunderland), Kane (Blackburn Rovers), Casement (Ipswich Town), McArdle (Rochdale), Cathcart (Manchester Utd), Callaghan (Derry City), Howland (Port Vale), McVey (Coleraine), Turner (Bohemians), Garrett (Wrexham), Buchanan (Bury), Mulgrew (Linfield), Carvill (Wrexham), McCaffrey (Livingston), Stewart (Linfield), Fordyce (Glentoran), Ward (Chesterfield), Waterworth (Hamilton Academicals), Meenan (Monaghan Utd), Keenan (Larne), Taylor (Hearts).