TANYA Oxtoby has announced her squad for the two-legged UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 play-off final against Norway at Inver Park, Larne on Friday, November 29.
The Northern Ireland senior women’s team manager has made just one change from the squad that beat Croatia in round one of the play-offs.
Hearts Women striker Kerry Beattie has returned to the panel after injury, while Crusaders Strikers defender Rachel McLaren has moved to the standby list.
Nottingham Forest Women defender Natalie Johnson, who returned to the Northern Ireland squad for the games against Croatia after a four-year hiatus, has retained her place in the squad.
Still missing through injury are Glentoran Women midfielder Nadene Caldwell, Nottingham Forest Women midfielder Caragh Hamilton and Montrose Women goalkeeper Lauren Perry.
Northern Ireland booked their place in the decider with a 2-1 aggregate win over Croatia at the round one stage, while the Norwegians defeated Albania 14-0 on aggregate in their round one play-off.
The Northern Ireland manager said she was pleased with how the squad had performed over the two legs against the Croatians last month.
“We are really comfortable and happy with where we are at and we feel this group will give a great account of themselves against a really good Norway side,” she said.
“For me it’s about making sure that we play the game and not the occasion. It’s a double header and anything can happen. We need to remain focused on ourselves and continue to improve in a really high pressure situation,” she added.
Oxtoby also said she was proud of both her players and her backroom staff for getting the team this far.
The Northern Ireland boss added: “This is our moment now to go and enjoy it and test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world.”
Inver Park in Larne is the venue for the first leg of the play-off final On Friday, November 29 (7,00pm kick-off).
The second leg will be played in Norway on Tuesday, December 3. The match is scheduled to kick off at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo at 5.00pm UK time.
A place at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland is guaranteed for the winners of the two-legged play-off final.
Norway are currently ranked 16th in the world, while Northern Ireland are in 45th place in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings.
Tickets for the game against the Norwegians in Larne on 29 November are available at irishfa.com/tickets.
The 23-strong Northern Ireland squad for the two-legged play-off final against Norway is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (Bristol City Women), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Rachael Norney (Liverpool Feds).
Defenders: Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason (all Birmingham City Women), Laura Rafferty (Rangers Women), Rachel Dugdale (Blackburn Rovers Women), Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville Ladies), Natalie Johnson (Nottingham Forest Women).
Midfielders: Joely Andrews (Hearts Women), Chloe McCarron (Glentoran Women), Louise McDaniel (Cliftonville Ladies), Brenna McPartlan (Burnley Women), Megan Bell (Rangers Women), Connie Scofield (London City Lionesses).
Forwards: Kerry Beattie and Lauren Wade (both Hearts Women), Emily Wilson (Glentoran Women), Simone Magill (Birmingham City Women), Keri Halliday (Linfield Women), Casey Howe (Nottingham Forest Women), Danielle Maxwell (Cliftonville Ladies).
