Furness to step away from Northern Ireland internationals 'for the foreseeable future'

Northern Ireland's all-time top goalscorer Rachel Furness has said she is stepping away from international football 'for the foreseeable future'.

The Liverpool player has netted 38 goals in 85 caps and was a member of Northern Ireland's squad which took part in an historic European Championship finals this summer.

She has underlined that she is not however retiring from the international game.

Writing on her Twitter account, she said: ""It's a decision I've found incredibly hard, but one I feel is right.

"I have informed the Irish Football Association that I am making myself unavailable for selection for the upcoming games and training camps for the foreseeable future, due to personal reasons.

""I'd like to put on record that I am not retiring from international football and I hope to make myself available again in the future. I wish the girls all the best."

Northern Ireland are preparing for trips to Luxembourg and Latvia in World Cup qualifiers next month. The squad for that double-header is to be named on Friday.