There has been a shock, international call-up this week, involving a fan favourite at Mansfield Town, 29-year-old shot-stopper, Christy Pym, having received the call from Northern Ireland boss, Michael O’Neill.

It’ll be the first taste of senior, international football, for the Exeter-born goalkeeper, who qualifies for Northern Ireland due to his grandmother having been born in Belfast, and is just reward not only for the success he’s had since joining the Stags, but also his form this season.

Clean sheets in his last three, League One outings, Pym joins the international set-up with high hopes of making his debut in either of Northern Ireland’s upcoming UEFA Nations League encounters against Belarus (12 October), or Bulgaria (15 October).

Granted his call-up his down to injuries elsewhere, but you have to take the opportunities when they present themselves, he joining Bolton Wanderers’ Luke Southwood (one appearance, 2022), and Sheffield Wednesday’s Pierce Charles (zero appearances).

The news of Pym’s call-up landed following the withdrawal of mainstay Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Birmingham City), who’s out with a shoulder injury, and the fact that his understudy, Plymouth Argyle’s Conor Hazard, will be out until December following ankle surgery.

Based at Stockport County’s Carrington training venue, Northern Ireland boss, Michael O’Neill said at the start of the week that: “This is a great base for us.

“We are developing as a team and there are good facilities here to work in.

“We just want to continue to progress.

“We have a longer lead-in time to this game (against Belarus) than for previous games so we’ve got to make the most of the time we have here.”

For Pym however, he, along with both Southwood and Charles, will certainly have their work cut out for that number one jersey against two very strong, Eastern nations, and, although Pym himself also qualifies to play for the Republic, and made a handful of appearances for England U20s back in 2014, this is a huge chance for him.

The Stags’ Head of Goalkeeping, Adam Collin, told www.mansfieldtown.net of Pym’s surprise call-up that: “It’s fantastic news for Christy and the club as he receives this international call-up.

“It is deserved recognition for his superb form, not only this season but over the last three seasons.

“He has shown unbelievable consistency in his games for Mansfield Town and has produced a number of match-winning moments.

“Christy is a superb professional day-in, day-out, and someone who will be adept in moving up to international level.”

The fourth international call-up from the Stags this time around, Pym joins that of Keanu Baccus (Australia), Ben Waine (New Zealand), and Lucas Akins (Grenada) in those being selected and will travel to the ZTE Arena, Zalaegerszeg, for the first match, before returning to Windsor Park, Belfast, just three days later.

Pym will then be in contention for Mansfield’s next league game, at home to Stevenage Borough, on 19 October.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Stags goalkeeper Pym has been called up for the Northern Ireland squad.