CELTIC keeper Conor Hazard has been called into Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad for the friendly against South Korea at Windsor Park a week on Saturday.
The international boss reckons the 20-year-old rookie Hoops shotstopper, currently on loan at Championship outfit Falkirk, is one for the future.
O’Neill, who rejected the Scotland job to sign an extension with the Irish, said: “Conor Hazard is a goalkeeper we have high hopes for.
“He trained with the senior squad last June. We have three young keepers who will be rotated and managed between the Under-21s and senior side going forward.”
Hazard could have been on the substitute bench at Ibrox on Sunday following Dorus de Vries’ withdrawal following the ankle injury he sustained in training 24 hours earlier.
Scott Bain, on loan from Dundee, was rushed into the first team for his debut – and his first game since October.
Brendan Rodgers gave the back-up spot to Ross Doohan, 19, in the Parkhead side’s 3-2 triumph.
Hazard has youth caps for his country from 16 through to 19, but has yet to make an appearance for the Under-21s.
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