Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill hopes Dion Charles can step up while a couple of his fellow strikers are out injured.

Charles scored his first international goals in March, bagging a brace in a 2-0 victory against San Marino.

The 27-year-old has had a fine season at Wanderers, finding the net 21 times in all competitions as Ian Evatt’s men finished fifth in League One before coming up just short against Barnsley in the play-offs.

And he will be hoping to make his mark during the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Denmark and Kazakhstan, which take place on Friday, June 16 and Monday, June 19 respectively.

Michael O’Neill’s side currently sit fifth in Group H and suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Finland last time out.

Conor Washington and former Bolton man Josh Magennis are both absent from the latest squad due to injury.

This has meant Lee Bonis, who has been linked with a move to the UniBol, and West Ham youngster Callum Marshall have been called up for the first time.

With a youthful strike department for the upcoming matches, O’Neill hopes Charles can lead the way.

“We have injuries to Washington and Magennis, which leaves us only really with Dion,” said the Northern Ireland boss.

“We’ve got Shayne Lavery coming back in and young Dale Taylor and now Callum as potentially our striking options.

“We’re not going to expect too much of Callum, but I think he earns and deserves his place in the squad.”

O’Neill returned to for a second spell in the hot seat in December following Ian Baraclough’s sacking.

Northern Ireland have proven they are willing to put their trust in youth, and Conor Bradley is a prime example of this trend.

The Liverpool youngster, who went from strength to strength on loan at Wanderers last season, has already become an important member of the national side.

19-year-old Manchester City prospect Shea Charles has also received opportunities in the senior squad.

O’Neill is hopeful the latest call-ups can follow in their footsteps and make the step up to international football.

He added: “It is a different approach from taking a team and saying, ‘How do we qualify? What is our route to qualification? How do we get enough points?’

“Of course, that is always in the background. But I think it is more about the integration of the younger players, and they will have to learn very quickly on the job if we are going to take that next step.”