Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has promised to blood more local talent after turning to the domestic league to swell his latest squad.

Worthington has named five players from the domestic league in an inexperienced 19-man party for next month's friendly in Italy. The quintet of Linfield duo Alan Mannus and Robert Garrett, Crusaders pair Colin Coates and Martin Donnelly and Coleraine midfielder Stephen Carson could all get their chance as a number of senior players are rested.

"We have got five Irish League players and that sends out a message that we are keeping an eye on them," Worthington said. "I'm sure we could get one or two more names from the Irish League on that list, but we can only have so many because I want to look at as many youngsters from across the water as possible."

With Northern Ireland top of their FIFA World Cup™ qualifying group after back-to-back wins over Poland and Slovenia in March and April, Worthington is happy to allow most of his experienced players a break. The only significant experience in his squad comes from record goalscorer David Healy, Birmingham's Damien Johnson and Grant McCann of Scunthorpe, who account for 145 of the total 161 caps between them.

Among the rest of the group are ten uncapped players and six more who have appeared just five times or less. Worthington admits he would rather be facing the world champions with a stronger side but he insists the game in Pisa on 6 June is still a worthwhile exercise.

He added: "Some of the youngsters would have got a chance in the game anyway but there is probably a lot more than we planned for. I see the positives from giving the youngsters a go, it lets me see where they are at. The senior players have had a long, hard season and they need a rest. Our main focus needs to be September when the qualifiers come back round again."

Worthington insists he has not been put under any pressure to leave out players by their employers. He said: "It was pretty straightforward. The players need a break and we have not had any issue with the clubs at all."