The pair of fixtures, both of which will be shown live on the BBC, are the first of Northern Ireland's qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Also included despite fitness concerns is Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

Charles, 20, has been O'Neill's preferred choice in goal since last year's Nations League campaign but he injured his shoulder during Sheffield Wednesday's Championship defeat by Stoke City on Saturday with the Owls confirming on Thursday that he "faces a spell on the sidelines".

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"Pierce has an injury, we're in dialogue with Sheffield Wednesday, we don't know the extent of that in full yet," O'Neill told BBC Sport NI.

On the difficulty of including an injured player, O'Neill added: "We have two weeks before we play so we have to make sure that we give ourselves every chance that he can be fit to play if selected.

"We also need cover if not and that's what we'll do.

It's only come to light in the past 24 hours and hopefully the player will get good news before we meet up, but we'll have to wait and see."

With his usual international understudy, Plymouth Argyle's Conor Hazard, yet to play this season because of an injury sustained against Denmark in June, O'Neill has recalled Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

The Birmingham City stopper, who is on loan at Blackpool, has won 48 caps for the side but has not been named in an international panel since September 2024.

Defenders Paddy McNair and Eoin Toal also return after missing the June friendlies through injury, while Stevenage striker Jamie Reid's strong start to the League One season has been rewarded with an international recall.