Michael O'Neill handed a senior debut to young defender Ciaron Brown on Thursday night.
He was the surprise inclusion in Northern Ireland 's starting XI for the friendly against Luxembourg.
Brown got the nod despite only recently being called up to Ian Baraclough's Under 21s for the first time.
The young international side take on Malta on Friday night in Ballymena, but Brown has been handed a sterner test at senior level.
Brown currently plays for Cardiff City but spent the second half of last season on loan with Scottish club Livingston.
The 21-year-old made four starts in the Scottish top flight and appeared once for the bench.
Brown played for amateur side Bedfont Sports before moving to National League South club Wealdstone where he made over 50 appearances, scoring twice.
He moved to Cardiff in January 2018 and was an unused substitute in Cardiff's 3–1 defeat to Norwich City in the EFL Cup.
Hailing from the London borough of Hillingdon, Brown qualifies for Northern Ireland through his mother who is from Belfast.
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