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Dion Charles has been rewarded for a positive start to his Bolton Wanderers career with a recall to the Northern Ireland squad.
The striker, signed from Accrington Stanley in January, has already scored six goals for the club and made himself a favourite with the Bolton fans.
But after being excluded from the previous national squad, he has now been named in a 25-man squad for forthcoming friendlies against Luxembourg (March 25) and Hungary (March 29).
Charles has six caps to his name and had been hoping regular football with Wanderers could get him back into the international fold.
“I was in the squad in September and October, but I wasn’t in November due to not being in the squad in my club career,” he said earlier this month. “But all I can do now is play as well as I can and hopefully get back into the squad with the gaffer watching.
“That (Bolton form) stands me in good stead to get a call-up. If I do, who knows but I’ll always be ready.”
As a result of his call-up, Charles will miss Wanderers’ home game against Portsmouth, which is currently due to be played on March 26.
The game could be rescheduled if more players are selected to play for their country.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson could travel to play for Iceland, who face Finland and Spain, and James Trafford may also be called up to play for England’s Under-20s, who face Poland and Germany.
Pompey also have a handful of players who could feature – and would be able to apply to have the game postponed by the EFL if they have three unavailable.
Wanderers have also confirmed that their April 2 game at Wigan Athletic will now kick-off at the earlier time of 12.30pm.
Full Northern Ireland squad: Goalkeepers – Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Burnley), Conor Hazard (HJK Helsinki, on loan from Celtic), Luke Southwood (Reading).
Defenders – Craig Cathcart (Watford), Shane Ferguson (Rotherham United), Daniel Ballard (Millwall, on loan from Arsenal), Tom Flanagan (Shrewsbury Town), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United, on loan from Cardiff City), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough), Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Midfielders – Steven Davis (Rangers), Niall McGinn (Dundee), Corry Evans (Sunderland), Stuart Dallas (Leeds United), George Saville (Millwall), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Patrick Lane (Fleetwood Town), Matthew Kennedy (Aberdeen), Liam Donnelly (Motherwell).
Forwards – Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic), Gavin Whyte (Oxford United, on loan from Cardiff City), Dion Charles (Bolton Wanderers), Shayne Lavery (Blackpool).
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