Kenny's background 'not that important' to O'Neill

O'Neill says Kenny's Republic of Ireland family ties played no role in his Northern Ireland call-up; the Portsmouth attacker earned selection on merit after impressing with the under-21s.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has dismissed suggestions that Eoin Kenny's family connection to the Republic of Ireland influenced his senior call-up for Nations League fixtures against Ukraine (14 November) and Hungary (17 November).

Kenny, 20, is the son of former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny and was born in Northern Ireland while his father managed Derry City. He represented the Republic at under-19 level before switching to Northern Ireland's under-21 side, where he captained the team against Greece last month.

O'Neill said he based the decision purely on Kenny's performances. "The background is not really that important for me, if I'm honest. I just look at the lad as a player," O'Neill said. "He's really enjoyed being in the Northern Ireland set-up and, I think off the back of a really strong under-21s campaign, he deserves the opportunity to be in the squad." The Portsmouth player, who joined from Dundalk in the summer, has made one Championship appearance so far.