NI U23 squad for Belgium is named

David Jeffrey will manage the N Ireland U23 outfit

An 18-strong Northern Ireland U23 squad for the forthcoming International Challenge Trophy match against Belgium on 11 December has been named.

The panel includes four players from Linfield, four from Dungannon Swifts and two each from Glentoran, Ballymena United and Newry City.

One player each from Cliftonville, Limavady United, Lisburn Distillery and Institute complete the squad.

The game is the first of three in the series and David Jeffrey is manager.

Northern Ireland are competing in the event for the first time, with the competition being staged over two years.

Northern Ireland have been drawn in Group B alongside Belgium, Republic of Ireland and Slovakia.

Jeffrey's side will host the Republic of Ireland next spring and their final match will be away to Slovakia next October.

Group A will consist of trophy holders England, Finland, Wales and Italy and the group winners will meet in the final in February, 2009.

The tournament comes as a follow-up to a successful representative match against the English National Game XI earlier this year.

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Northern Ireland U23 squad: Murphy (Ballymena), Nelson (Dungannon), Ervin (Linfield), Lindsay (Linfield), Watson (Ballymena), McMinn (Dungannon), B Holland (Cliftonville), Ogilby (Institute), Scullion (Glentoran), Ward (Glentoran), Clarke (Newry City), McIlmoyle (Limavady), Mulgrew (Linfield), McGinn (Dungannon), Waterworth (Lisburn Distillery), Garrett (Linfield/Newry City), Stewart (Linfield), McAllister (Dungannon Swifts).