Glentoran Women midfielder Caragh Hamilton has been drafted in to the Northern Ireland squad for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Latvia.
Hamilton, who cruelly missed out on Women’s Euro 2022 through injury, replaces Southampton Women defender Laura Rafferty, who has withdrawn from the squad.
A thigh injury prevented Hamilton from competing at the Euros in England last month, however she is now fully fit again.
Cliftonville Ladies defender Kelsie Burrows has also had to withdraw from Kenny Shiels’ panel due to personal circumstances.
Her absence means a first senior call-up for her club team-mate Grace McKimm (pictured above).
McKimm, who can play in defence or in midfield, has previously played for Northern Ireland at U19 and U17 level.
She was part of the WU19 squad which performed strongly in League B qualifiers for Women’s U19 Euro 2022 back in April and gained promotion to League A for the next edition of the competition.
The senior women’s team are set to play Luxembourg on Friday (2 September, 5.30pm UK time) at Stade Émile Mayrisch in Esch-sur-Alzette.
And then they will be taking on Latvia at Sloka Stadium in Jurmala next Tuesday (6 September, 3pm UK time).
The games will bring Northern Ireland’s FIFA World Cup 2023 qualification campaign in European Group D to a close.
Caragh Hamilton has been called into the Northern Ireland senior women's squad
