Northern Ireland will be without Everton forward Simone Magill and Liverpool attacker Rachel Furness for their international friendly fixture against Scotland later this month.
The Green and White Army take on Stuart McLaren’s side at Seaview in Belfast on Thursday 10 June as they prepare for the start of their FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia New Zealand 2023 qualifying campaign in September.
The Northern Irish Football Association confirmed head coach Kenny Shiels’ 22-player squad to FAWSL Full-Time via a press release with Everton’s Magill and Liverpool’s Furness being absent from the selection. Magill is missing as she is getting married while Liverpool’s Furness continues to recover from a broken fibula sustained in the first leg of Northern Ireland’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 play-off against Ukraine in April.
Head coach Shiels has selected three English-based players in his squad. Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Becky Flaherty has been included while Birmingham City’s Rebecca Holloway and Durham’s Sarah McFadden have also made the cut. Former Bristol City defender Laura Rafferty and former Charlton Athletic midfielder Ciara Watling have made the squad despite not currently being contracted to clubs.
Having recently secured qualification for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, Northern Ireland will have their sights set of FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification when their group fixtures begin in September. First up will be a home fixture against Luxembourg on 17 September.