Dion Charles and Eoin Toal will link up with Northern Ireland next week buoyed by comments from their international boss Michael O’Neill.

Northern Ireland are holding two separate training camps ahead of Euro 2024 qualifiers against Denmark and Kazakhstan, giving the manager a chance to run his eye over around 30 different players.

Among them, Larne striker Lee Bonis, who has been strongly linked with a move to Wanderers this summer.

The 23-year-old scored 19 goals and had 16 assists for his club this season and is working with the senior squad for the first time.

Other than Conor Bradley – the Liverpool wing-back who was on loan with Wanderers last season – O’Neill has little representation in the Premier League.

But he has given hope to Wanderers stars like Charles and Toal that they are playing at a suitable level of football to remain in his plans for the qualifying campaign and beyond. The pair will join up with the squad at St George’s Park just a couple of weeks after finishing their League One campaign.

Speaking about the lack of Premier League regulars at his disposal, and watching more football in the divisions below, O’Neill observed: "I think there is a difference between League Two and League One, there is a gap there and the gap is bigger between League One and the Championship.

"Although, what we see in League One is that there are a lot of big clubs, the likes of Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County.

"I would never say I'd never pick a League Two but I do feel it's probably a level where the lads have to get out of it.

"League One is a good place for loans; you see that with the likes of Conor Bradley, it's also a good starting point for players coming across and you see that with Eoin Toal at Bolton.

"We have to try and pick players who are playing regularly at as high a level as possible."

Striker Bonis has caught the eye of a few English clubs with his scoring exploits this season, and reports in Northern Ireland suggest a move is highly likely this summer.

Wanderers were pleased with the way defender Toal settled in his first full season and have established further links in the League of Ireland so they can keep their ear to the ground for up-and-coming talents.

O’Neill is also confident Bonis can succeed in England.

"I had a good conversation with Tiernan Lynch (Larne manager) about Lee and he spoke very highly of him," he said.

"I know there's a lot of clubs who have expressed an interest and are keeping an eye on that situation, so it's great having him in.

"It's a bit similar to when we had Liam Boyce in when he was at Cliftonville and then he went onto Ross County, so hopefully, there will be an opportunity for Lee.

"I saw him against Cliftonville and he scored and the game I really wanted to see him in was against Linfield, he was suspended that night unfortunately.

"English football in particular wants strikers who are mobile, can work and almost be the first line of defence.

"The ideas of strikers not being able to run or put themselves about and press, there aren't many teams interested in that.

"I know those are qualities that Lee naturally has and he's essentially only been a professional for a year since he's gone to Larne in a full-time situation.

"I think we've seen a real upturn as to where he is as a player, so we'd hope that if he keeps on that trajectory, then there's no reason why he can't get that opportunity."