Career
He also plays for the Northern Ireland U21 national team McCartan joined Burnley in May 2010 on a two-year scholarship, having previously played for Glenavon and Banbridge Town. He made his debut for the club in April 2012.
He has represented Northern Ireland at various youth levels, and on 26 April 2012 was called up to the Northern Ireland U21 Squad for the first time.
Youth career
McCartan started his career with his local side Banbridge Town, where he played for several years. In 2009, he joined Glenavon, where he spent one season.
He also represented County Down in the 2009 Milk Cup and was named as the side"s player of the tournament. In May 2010, McCartan signed for Burnley on a two-year apprenticeship, beating off competition from other clubs.
Burnley paid a compensation fee to both Glenavon and Banbridge.
He was part of the squad that got to the FA Youth Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1978, scoring a last minute goal against West Bromwich Albion in the process. = Professional McCartan was first involved with the first team squad in September 2011, when he was an unused substitute in the 2–1 League Cup victory over Milton Keynes Dons. His first Football League Championship involvement was in April 2012, when he was an unused substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion.
On 31 January 2013, he joined Football Conference side Hyde on an initial one-month loan.
Later in 2013 he joined Accrington Stanley. McCartan made his debut for the Northern Ireland U17 side in October 2010, in the 2011 Union of European Football Associations European Under-17 Football Championship qualifying round, a 0–0 draw with Montenegro.
Northern Ireland qualified for the elite round of qualifying after finishing second in the group. Their first group game was a 3–2 defeat to England, with McCartan bagging a brace.
His form for the under-17s saw him get called up to the under-19 squad.
On 26 April 2012, still aged just 17, McCartan was called up to the Northern Ireland U21 squad for the first time for their European Under 21 qualifying game against Macedonia. However, he remained an unused substitute. On 12 July 2012, McCartan was called up for the under-19"s as part of the Milk Cup squad, along with fellow Burnley player Luke Conlan.
On 21 July 2012 McCartan scored in a 5–3 defeat to Chile.
