Dan Ballard included in Northern Ireland squad despite injury scare for pivotal World Cup play-offs | OneFootball

Sunderland defender Dan Ballard has been included in Northern Ireland's squad for their World Cup qualifying play-off against Italy later this month despite an injury scare.

Ballard was forced off in the second half of the Black Cats' Premier League loss to Brighton on Saturday, and is considered a doubt for next weekend's Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park.

However, Michael O'Neill has included the 26-year-old in a 28-strong squad for the trip to face Italy in the play-off semi-final in Bergamo on 26 March.

O’Neill is combining his international duties with managing Championship strugglers Blackburn for the rest of the season and doesn’t feel his decision to take on the extra role has impacted preparation.

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Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has been combining his international duties with his role at Blackburn (PA Archive)

"I didn't feel this decision would affect the preparation of the team as a lot of the preparation was already done," he said.

"People, whether they choose to believe that or not, that's entirely up to them, but the most important thing for me is that Stuart Dallas, Craig Cathcart, Brad Lyons, other players that came out have not seen it as an issue because they understand what it's like to be an international."

Southampton midfielder Shea Charles and his brother Pierce, the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, return from injury along with Preston midfielder Ali McCann and Oxford defender Brodie Spencer.

There is also a first senior call-up for Liverpool's teenage winger Kieran Morrison.

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Liverpool starlet Kieran Morrison has earned a first senior call-up (Getty Images)

The 19-year-old has made two senior appearances for Liverpool this season, against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup in November and in their FA Cup win over Wolves earlier this month, while scoring 13 goals in 17 apearances for the club's under-21s this term.

However, his club team-mate Conor Bradley is out with injury, while Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Luke Southwood, Wimbledon defender Ryan Johnson, Preston defender Jamal Lewis and winger Ross McCausland, on loan at Aris Limassol from Rangers, are left out.

The winner of the semi-final in Bergamo will travel to play either Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina in the play-off final on 31 March.

The winner of that match will then go into Group B at this summer's World Cup alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham), Conor Hazard (Plymouth), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Josh Clarke (Partick Thistle, on loan from Celtic).

Defenders: Trai Hume, (Sunderland), Dan Ballard (Sunderland), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Paddy McNair (Hull), Eoin Toal (Bolton), Ruairi McConville (Norwich), Brodie Spencer (Oxford United), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth).