Northern Ireland interim senior women’s team manager Kris Lindsay has named his squad for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifiers against Switzerland and Turkiye.
Lindsay has made five changes from the panel originally chosen by previous manager Tanya Oxtoby for the two-legged UEFA Women’s Nations League play-off against Iceland at the end of October.
The interim boss has picked a 23-strong squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland in Lausanne on 3 March and Turkiye at Mourneview Park in Lurgan on 7 March.
Experienced Rangers Women defender Laura Rafferty returns to the squad after missing out on the Iceland games through injury.
Also back are Charlton Women defender Ellie Mason and Burnley Women midfielder Brenna McPartlan, who were both absentees from those UWNL play-off matches due to injury.
And making a return to the senior international set-up is Montrose Women goalkeeper Lauren Perry.
The 24-year-old made her senior international debut at the age of 16 and went on to earn five caps between 2017 and 2018, however she has not made any appearances since then despite being involved in training camps and being part of the squad for Euro qualifiers in the summer of 2024.
The former Linfield Ladies, Blackburn Rovers Women, Forfar Farmington and Dundee United Women player has had to overcome a couple of serious knee injuries in recent years, but has been in good form in the Scottish Women’s Premier League for Montrose, whom she joined in 2023.
Lindsay has also called up 17-year-old goalkeeper Abbie Smith, who is currently on a scholarship with Manchester City Women. Smith was first included in a senior squad for Nations League matches in May/June.
Missing through injury this time are Hearts Women midfielder Joely Andrews and Glentoran Women forward Emily Wilson.
Jackie Burns, who has recently moved from Calgary Wild in Canada to Bristol City Women, is the only goalkeeper to retain her place in the panel. Dropping out are Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers) and Kate Smith (Lisburn Rangers Ladies).
Also not included are defender/midfielder Toni-Leigh Finnegan and striker Kerry Beattie (both Aberdeen Women).
Northern Ireland are due to face Switzerland, Turkiye and Malta in stage one of the European qualifiers for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil.
Switzerland are top seeds in League B Group 2, while Northern Ireland are second seeds. Turkiye are third seeds.
The squad for the WCQs in March is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Jackie Burns (Bristol City Women), Lauren Perry (Montrose Women), Abbie Smith (Manchester City Women).
Defenders - Rebecca Holloway and Rebecca McKenna (both Birmingham City Women), Sarah McFadden (Durham Women), Abi Sweetlove (Linfield Women), Natalie Johnson (Nottingham Forest Women), Ellie Mason (Charlton Women), Laura Rafferty (Rangers Women).
Midfielders - Nadene Caldwell, Aimee Kerr and Mia Moore (all Glentoran Women), Louise McDaniel and Brenna McPartlan (both Burnley Women), Megan Bell (Linfield Women), Leyla McFarland (Durham Women).
Forwards - Lauren Wade and Keri Halliday (both Hearts Women), Caragh Hamilton (Sunderland Women, on loan from Nottingham Forest Women), Kascie Weir (Glentoran Women), Danielle Maxwell (Burnley Women), Casey Howe (Wolverhampton Wanderers Women, on loan from Nottingham Forest Women).
