Michael O'Neill says Callum Marshall "earned his place" in Northern Ireland's senior squad after impressing in last month's Under 21 camp.
Marshall is one of three new additions to O'Neill's squad for the upcoming Euro qualifiers against Denmark and Kazakhstan.
The Glengormley youngster has enjoyed an outstanding season with West Ham United's academy, helping the young Hammers lift the FA Youth Cup.
Read more: Michael O'Neill compares new boy Lee Bonis to former Irish League star
The 18-year-old has progressed up the ranks at international level, having recently impressed with the U21s and in two preparation camps in England under the watchful eye of O'Neill.
"I had heard quite a bit about Callum leading into the Under 21 camp. I was aware that he had done very well for West Ham this year in the FA Youth Cup and he was a big part of that success," O'Neill said.
"And then he impressed greatly in the first Under 21 camp. I loved his attitude to the game and his real hunger for the game.
"He loves to score goals and I just thought we would add him to the first senior camp and, again, he has shown the exact same things. He hasn't looked out of place at all in the senior camps.
"So I think we should include him. We have injuries to (Conor) Washington and (Josh) Magennis, which leaves us with really only Dion (Charles). We have Shayne Lavery coming back in and Dale Taylor as potentially our only striking options.
"We are not going to expect too much of him, but he deserves and has earned his place in the squad."
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