Albert Celades’ young side travel to Shamrock Park in Portadown to face Northern Ireland in a European Under-21 Championship Group 2 top-of-the-table clash, with Spain two-points ahead of their opponents. That game will be played on Thursday, 22nd March, with kick-off set for 7.45pm.

And they will follow that up with another qualifier, a home game against Iceland, on Tuesday, 27th March at the Estadio El Toralín in Ponferrada (6.30pm kick-off).

Merino, 21, will be hoping to add to his tally of ten caps at under-21 level during this round of international fixtures. The Magpies midfielder – who will rejoin the United squad ahead of the Premier League game against Huddersfield Town a week on Saturday – also has three goals to his name for Celades’ team.