Manchester City goalkeeper Abbie Smith has been called into the Northern Ireland squad for the first time
Manchester City goalkeeper Abbie Smith has been called into the Northern Ireland squad for the first time
Teenage goalkeeper Abbie Smith has been named in the Northern Ireland senior squad for the first time.
Just three months after joining Manchester City on a two-year scholarship the 16-year-old has been selected by manager Tanya Oxtoby for the crucial Women's Nations League double header against Poland and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
While it is a big step up for under-17 international Smith, who made the move from Crusaders Strikers in February, Oxtoby sees it as an opportunity to speed up her development.
It is less than a year since she made her debut for the Strikers aged just 15-years-old against Glentoran Women in August 2024, which turned out to be her only Women's Premiership appearance for the club.
At the other end of the scale all-time leading goalscorer Rachel Furness, who was called in late ahead of last month's win over Romania is included from the start this time around and could add to her 96 caps.
Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby
Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby
Smith replaces Rachel Norney in the squad while Rangers' Laura Rafferty returns to the defence after injury ruled her out of the most recent double header against Romania. Kelsie Burrows is currently out through an ankle injury sustained while playing for Cliftonville Ladies and Nat Johnson, who was called in last time around, is back on the stand-by list.
Megan Bell too back after missing the second game against Romania as Oxtoby expands her panel by naming 24 players this time around.
Northern Ireland currently trail Poland by three points in the group, making next Friday's clash at Seaview potentially pivotal in the fight for promotion to League A and the feeling that the 2-0 defeat in Gdansk back in February wasn't a reflection of the performance is still fresh in the minds of Oxtoby and her squad. A win for Northern Ireland, who are unbeaten in the last three games, would set up a huge clash with Bosnia the following Tuesday with at least a promotion Play-off the aim.
Poland dropped points for the first time in the group when an injury time goal rescued them in Bosnia in their last game, on the same night that Northern Ireland beat Romania 1-0 to close the gap at the top of the group and keep hopes of a rise to League A alive.
Goalkeepers - Jackie Burns (Calgary Wild), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Abbie Smith (Manchester City Women).
Defenders - Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason (all Birmingham City Women), Laura Rafferty (Rangers Women), Rachel Dugdale (Blackburn Rovers Women), Abi Sweetlove (Linfield Women).
Midfielders - Louise McDaniel and Brenna McPartlan (both Burnley Women), Nadene Caldwell and Aimee Kerr (both Glentoran Women), Joely Andrews (Hearts Women), Megan Bell (Nottingham Forest Women), Connie Scofield (Sheffield United Women, on loan from London City Lionesses), Rachel Furness (Newcastle United Women).
Forwards - Emily Wilson and Kascie Weir (both Glentoran Women), Lauren Wade (Hearts Women), Simone Magill (Birmingham City Women), Keri Halliday (Linfield Women), Danielle Maxwell (Burnley Women), Caragh Hamilton (Nottingham Forest Women).
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