Nations League: Hamilton returns to NI Women's squad

Northern Ireland Manager Tanya Oxtoby has announced her squad for this month’s Women’s Nations League games against Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There is just one change from the squad that faced Norway in the two-legged Women’s Euro 2025 play-off late last year.

Nottingham Forest attacker Caragh Hamilton is back in the panel after recovering from injury. She replaces club team-mate Casey Howe, who is still on the road to recovery after suffering an injury in the run-up to the play-off matches against the Norwegians.

A handful of players have moved to new clubs since Oxtoby’s squad last met up.

Midfielder Megan Bell has switched to Nottingham Forest from Rangers, while striker Kerry Beattie has gone to Aberdeen on loan from Hearts.

Cliftonville Ladies duo Danielle Maxwell and Louise McDaniel have both moved to Burnley, while Connie Scofield has signed for Sheffield United on loan from London City Lionesses.

Northern Ireland will begin their campaign in League B Group 1 away to top seeds Poland, on Friday February 21st in the port city of Gdansk.

Oxtoby’s side, who are the second seeds in the group, then face third seeds Bosnia and Herzegovina at Larne’s Inver Park on Tuesday February 25th (7pm). Romania are the other team in B1.

The four winners of League B groups in stage one will be promoted to League A for stage two, which is the European Qualifiers phase for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

The four second-placed teams will play against the third-placed teams in League A. The winner of each tie will play in League A, while the defeated teams will play in League B.

The two best third-placed teams play off against the two best-ranked second-placed teams of League C. The winners will play in League B for the European Qualifiers phase, and the defeated teams will play in League C.

Northern Ireland Women's Squad for the Nations League ths month

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

Defenders: Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason (all Birmingham City), Laura Rafferty (Rangers), Rachel Dugdale (Blackburn Rovers), Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville), Natalie Johnson (Nottingham Forest)

Midfielders: Joely Andrews (Hearts), Chloe McCarron (Glentoran), Louise McDaniel (Burnley), Brenna McPartlan (Burnley), Megan Bell (Nottingham Forest), Connie Scofield (Sheffield United, on loan from London City Lionesses).

Forwards: Kerry Beattie (Aberdeen, on loan from Hearts), Lauren Wade (Hearts), Emily Wilson (Glentoran), Simone Magill (Birmingham City), Keri Halliday (Linfield), Danielle Maxwell (Burnley), Caragh Hamilton (Nottingham Forest)