Preston North End teenager Adam Barton has won a shock call up to the Northern Ireland international squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers with Italy and the Faroe Islands.

The midfielder who has been a starting regular this season for the Lilywhites was born in the nearby city of Blackburn but qualifies to play for Northern Ireland through the parent rule.

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Now the 19 year old, who was also recently in the Northern Ireland U21 panel, will be looking to make an impact on manager Nigel Worthington if given the opportunity to win his first senior cap.

Barton follows a recent trend in Worthington blooding youth, including Wolves midfielder Jonny Gorman who is still at school, plus 20 year old Corry Evans, the goalscorer of the superb 1-0 win away in Slovenia at the start of September.

Also in the squad is former Preston North End favourite David Healy, who despite his current exile from first team action at Sunderland is still Northern Ireland’s highest goalscorer of all time.

Meanwhile Preston travel to play Leeds tonight, and Darren Ferguson will be hoping his team continue to play well away, following Saturday’s crucial 2-1 victory away at Coventry.

Image belongs to Skysports.