Northern Ireland Name Record Youngest Starting XI Since WWII in 1-0 Win Over Guinea as Kieran Morrison Makes Debut

Kieran Morrison made his senior Northern Ireland debut on Thursday, starting in the number nine shirt during a 1-0 friendly victory over Guinea in La Linea, Spain. He played the opening 45 minutes before speaking with his father by phone while still on the pitch under the Rock of Gibraltar.

Morrison said his father has called him after every game since he was four years old and serves as his coach.

"He was telling me what I could have done better and what I done well," Morrison said. "After every game he calls me until I answer. 1, the youngest on record since the end of World War Two.

Morrison was one of two debutants in the match. Arsenal teenager Ceadach O'Neill entered from the bench, while Blackburn Rovers defender Tom Atcheson scored the winning goal and was sent off in his first start. Morrison said he was surprised to receive the number nine shirt.

"I was shocked when I seen number nine. I don't think I've ever worn number nine," he said. " He was called into Michael O'Neill's senior squad for the World Cup play-off against Italy in March but did not feature in that match or the subsequent friendly against Wales.

Morrison has made two senior appearances for Liverpool in the EFL Cup and FA Cup. Morrison said the senior Northern Ireland call-up came as a surprise. "At the start of the season I wouldn't have expected to hear that," he said.

"I'm very proud and my family is very proud too. " He also commented on O'Neill's debut. "Me and Ceadach are close. I was mocking him on his number, it's a goalkeeper's number," Morrison said. "But I was proud of him to make his debut.