Blackburn Rovers defender Tom Atcheson has been called into the Northern Ireland senior squad for the upcoming international break. The 19-year-old's selection by manager Michael O'Neill highlights his rising profile as he prepares for a demanding run of four UEFA Nations League fixtures.
Atcheson, who already has two senior caps, was previously called up during O'Neill's time in Lancashire. His international experience includes scoring a goal against Guinea in a match that also saw him sent off. This fresh call-up comes as Blackburn, with 8 points from 7 games, sit 16th in the Championship. The team's recent form includes a 3-1 win over Millwall, where Atcheson provided an assist, and a 2-0 loss to Sheffield United. Their next club fixture is away to Portsmouth on September 19.
Northern Ireland's schedule is a packed one, beginning with an away match against Georgia on September 25. They then host Hungary at Windsor Park on September 28, travel to face Ukraine in Trnava on October 2, and conclude by welcoming Georgia to Belfast on October 5. The international window spans three weeks, pausing Championship action after Rovers' trip to Fratton Park.
Atcheson is not the only Blackburn player on international duty. Andri Gudjohnsen will join up with Iceland, while Kristi Montgomery is part of the Scotland Under-20 set-up. Goalkeeper Balazs Toth remains Hungary's number one. Yuki Ohashi, however, remains sidelined with injury, and Ryoya Morishita has not been selected by Japan since his move to Ewood Park. Fans can track the squad's international progress and view the full club squad details on our site. The break offers a chance for reflection after a recent 3-1 win over Millwall, a result that featured an assist from Atcheson himself.
Further reading: Lancashire Telegraph
