Congratulations to Joel Cooper and Mark Sykes who have been called up to the Northern Ireland Under-21 and Under-19 squads respectively.

Photo by Alan Weir

Photo by Alan Weir.

Joel travels to Scotland where the Northern Ireland team take on Scotland on Tuesday 29th at Paisley in a European Qualifier. The Under-21 squad contains no fewer than four former Glenavon players: Darren McKnight, Ryan McLaughlin, Robbie McDaid and Shay McCartan.

Mark’s Under-19 squad are off to the Netherlands to participate in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite Stage. In addition to the hosts the local lads face Poland and Ukraine with three games scheduled over a week. Mark is joined in the Under 19 squad by fellow Youth Cup winner, Shayne Lavery, who, of course, is now at Everton.

We wish Joel, Mark and all the N Ireland lads every success.