Women's Euros: Oxtoby names unchanged Northern Ireland squad for final league matches

Northern Ireland Women's Manager Tanya Oxtoby has named an unchanged squad for this month’s Euro qualifiers against Malta and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Oxtoby has selected the same 23 players who faced Portugal home and away in late May and early June.

Cliftonville Ladies midfielder Louise McDaniel, who was a late call-up to the Northern Ireland squad in May, replacing injured Rangers midfielder Megan Bell, has retained her place in the panel for this month’s games.

Bell, along London City Lionesses midfielder Connie Scofield and Birmingham City's Ellie Mason, are all still unavailable due to injury.

Northern Ireland’s campaign in the league phase of qualifiers for Euro 2025 will draw to a close when they take on Malta away in Ta’Qali on Friday July 12th and the Bosnians at Windsor Park on Tuesday July 16th.

The aim for Oxtoby and her players is to finish in second or third in the group, which will guarantee they enter the play-offs for places at next year’s Euros in Switzerland. A win against Malta would see Northern Ireland advance to the play-offs phase of the qualifiers.

The Bosnians are due to meet Portugal at home on the same day, before travelling to Belfast for their final game in the group.

Oxtoby said she felt the squad had done “exceptionally well” in the last international window, especially in the narrow 2-1 defeat to Portugal at Mourneview Park in early June. She said her squad selection this time around reflected that.

“We are keen to keep the momentum going and obviously this groupis really together and looking forward to the next challenge,” she said.

The Northern Ireland boss further revealed that everyone involved with the team is determined to “put right the wrongs” from the campaign opener against Malta in April, which ended in a goalless draw.

Northern Ireland created a host of chances that night at Windosr Park, but were unable to find the net, resulting in a disappointing 0-0 draw.

Oxtoby’s team currently sit third in League B Group 3 with four points from four matches. Top seeds Portugal lead the way with 12 from four, while second seeds Bosnia and Herzegovina are in second with six points from four matches.

Malta drew with Northern Ireland in their opening fixture, however they are currently propping up the table with just a single point from four matches.

Northern Ireland squad for the games against Malta and Bosnia:

Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (Unattached), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Lauren Perry (Montrose Women).

Defenders: Rebecca Holloway and Rebecca McKenna (both Birmingham City Women), Laura Rafferty (Rangers Women), Demi Vance (Glentoran Women), Rachel Dugdale (Reading Women), Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville Ladies).

Midfielders: Joely Andrews, Nadene Caldwell and Chloe McCarron (all Glentoran Women), Marissa Callaghan and Louise McDaniel (both Cliftonville Ladies), Brenna McPartlan (Burnley Women).

Forwards: Kerry Beattie and Emily Wilson (both Glentoran Women), Simone Magill (unattached), Lauren Wade (Unattached), Keri Halliday (Linfield Women), Casey Howe (Athlone Town Ladies), Caragh Hamilton (unattached), Danielle Maxwell (Cliftonville Ladies).