Cameron McGeehan is deserving of a call-up to the Northern Ireland squad as they bid to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, says Paul Heckingbottom.
The 22-year-old central midfielder – who missed eight months with a broken leg sustained with Luton Town in January – has started Barnsley's last three games and scored against Middlesbrough earlier this month. Although he recently said he is trying to put international football to the back of his mind and focus on impressing for Barnsley – who signed him in the summer despite his injury – McGeehan met after the leg break with Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill who insisted he was in his future plans.
Heckingbottom told the Chronicle: "He's good enough to play for them and Michael O'Neill was at Oakwell watching him when he scored against Middlesbrough which is a good sign. We want people to be hungry and, if you have a World Cup dangling in front of you, you can't have a bigger motivation."
O'Neill's side, who reached last summer's European Championships, finished second in their World Cup qualifying group behind champions Germany. They now face Switzerland in a two-legged play-off on November 9 and 12 in the next international break with the winners reaching next year's tournament in Russia. Despite being born and brought up in London, McGeehan qualifies to play for Northern Ireland through his family and has represented them at under 17, under 19 and under 21 level.
O'Neill's most recent squad included midfielders who play for sides in the lower half of the Championship, like Barnsley, such as Millwall's George Saville and Matty Lund of Burton Albion who Barnsley visit on Tuesday.
