Glentoran boss Mick McDermott says Conor McMenamin’s call-up to Northern Ireland’s training camp in England will come as no surprise to followers of the Irish League.
McMenamin, who scored 22 goals in all competitions for the Glens this season, has been one of the standout attacking talents across the domestic campaign.
And his dazzling displays have been rewarded with a place in Ian Baraclough’s 26-man panel for this week’s four-day camp at St George’s Park.
Read more: Glentoran winger Conor McMenamin named in Northern Ireland training squad
McDermott said: “Conor’s performances this season have earned him this call-up to the Northern Ireland training camp and it is fully deserved.
“He has been exceptional for us and at times he has been unplayable. He has a lot of attributes and when he is one-on-one, he is so hard to stop.
“He has been fantastic and I’ve said it before that there’s still a lot more to come from Conor. I firmly believe he has another couple of gears at his disposal.
“I’m delighted for Conor and his call-up should also act as a motivation for other players in the Irish League to play their way into Ian Baraclough’s thoughts and plans.”
McMenamin, 26, is one of four Irish League players to attend this week’s camp, alongside Larne’s Kofi Balmer, Dungannon Swifts midfielder Terry Devlin and Glenavon goalkeeper Josh Clarke.
Baraclough is using the gathering to prepare a number of experienced players for next month’s Nations League fixtures while also exposing younger players to the senior set-up.
The squad includes a number of teenagers, including Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee, Manchester City defender Shea Charles and West Ham United defender Michael Forbes.
Leeds United midfielder Charlie Allen, Derby County midfielder Darren Robinson, Brighton defender Ruairi McConville and Chelsea’s Sam McClelland are also in the panel.
Senior stars include Conor Washington (Charlton), Dion Charles (Bolton), Shayne Lavery (Blackpool), Gavin Whyte (Oxford United), Ciaron Brown (Oxford), Paddy Lane (Fleetwood) and Ali McCann (Preston).
The Northern Ireland training squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers – L Southwood (Reading), D Mee (Manchester United), J Clarke (Glenavon).
Defenders – C Brown (Oxford), M Forbes (West Ham), P Lane (Fleetwood Town), S Charles (Manchester City), S McClelland (Chelsea), B Spencer (Huddersfield), S Stewart (Norwich City), K Balmer (Larne), R McConville (Brighton).
Midfielders – A McCann (Preston), A McCalmont (Morecambe), O Smyth (Oxford), C Boyd-Munce (Middlesbrough), T Devlin (Dungannon Swifts), B Baggley (Fleetwood), C Allen (Leeds United), D Robinson (Derby County).
Forwards – C Washington (Charlton), S Lavery (Blackpool), G Whyte (Oxford United), D Charles (Bolton), P Smyth (Leyton Orient), C McMenamin (Glentoran).
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