Friday 18 Oct 2024

Oxtoby reveals senior women’s squad for games against Croatia

Tanya Oxtoby has rung the changes in her squad for this month’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 play-off games against Croatia.

Four of the six changes to the Northern Ireland senior women’s squad have resulted from injuries to players, while a couple of other players have missed out this time.

Rangers Women midfielder Megan Bell, London City Lionesses midfielder Connie Scofield and Birmingham City Women defender Ellie Mason all return after missing the last international double header in July through injury.

Returning to the Northern Ireland squad after a four-year hiatus is Nottingham Forest Women defender Natalie Johnson.

The 30-year-old was last in the squad for a Euro qualifier against Belarus in October 2020. She is yet to earn a senior cap, although she has been an unused substitute on five occasions.

Also back in the fold is Crusaders Strikers defender Rachel McLaren. The 21-year-old, who was last included in the panel back in April for UEFA Women’s Nations League games against Malta and Bosnia and Herzegovina, has one senior cap to date.

Another returnee is goalkeeper Rachael Norney. The Liverpool Feds keeper, who has one cap, was last in the squad in December 2023 for Nations League games with Albania and the Republic of Ireland.

Missing out through injury are Montrose Women goalkeeper Lauren Perry, Glentoran Women midfielder Nadene Caldwell, Nottingham Forest Women midfielder Caragh Hamilton and Hearts Women striker Kerry Beattie.

Also not included this time are Cliftonville Ladies midfielder Marissa Callaghan and Glentoran Women defender Demi Vance.

Northern Ireland senior women’s team manager Oxtoby said: “We have a rigorous selection process that we follow ahead of each camp and I have chosen a group of players for this camp that I feel can give us the best chance of winning this play-off. It is an exciting team and an exciting time and the squad is ready to go.

“The conversations I have had with the players not selected on this occasion will remain private and confidential which is aligned to the values of this group.”

And she added: “Every player in the squad and on the standby list has a role to play and the door is always open.”

Northern Ireland cemented their place in round one of the play-offs back in July with victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-0 at home) and Malta (2-0 away) in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

Oxtoby’s team, who finished second behind Portugal in League B Group 3 in the UWNL, are set to take on Croatia at the Stadion Varteks in Varazdin next Friday (25 October; 5pm BST start) before meeting them again at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on Tuesday 29 October (7pm).

If Northern Ireland defeat the Croatians in the two-legged contest they will face the winners of the R1 tie between Norway and Albania home and away in a play-off for a slot at UEFA Women's Euro 2025 in Switzerland.

Tickets for the game against Croatia in Belfast on 29 October are available at irishfa.com/tickets.

The 23-strong Northern Ireland squad for the play-off games against Croatia is as follows:

Goalkeepers – Jackie Burns (Bristol City Women), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Rachael Norney (Liverpool Feds).

Defenders - Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason (all Birmingham City Women), Laura Rafferty (Rangers Women), Rachel Dugdale (Blackburn Rovers Women), Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville Ladies), Rachel McLaren (Crusaders Strikers), Natalie Johnson (Nottingham Forest Women).

Midfielders - Joely Andrews (Hearts Women), Chloe McCarron (Glentoran Women), Louise McDaniel (Cliftonville Ladies), Brenna McPartlan (Burnley Women), Megan Bell (Rangers Women), Connie Scofield (London City Lionesses).

Forwards: Emily Wilson (Glentoran Women), Simone Magill (Birmingham City Women), Lauren Wade (Hearts Women), Keri Halliday (Linfield Women), Casey Howe (Nottingham Forest Women), Danielle Maxwell (Cliftonville Ladies).