NI's centre-back conundrum for Iceland play-off

Sarah McFadden, Abi Sweetlove, Toni-Leigh Finnegan and Rebecca Holloway have all been included in the Northern Ireland squad for the play-off against Iceland

Nations League play-off: Northern Ireland v Iceland

Dates: Friday, 24 October & Tuesday, 28 October Kick-off: 19:00 BST (Friday) & 18:00 GMT (Tuesday) Venues: Ballymena Showgrounds & Laugardalsvollur Stadium, Reykjavik

Coverage: Both matches are live on BBC iPlayer with live text commentary and in-play clips on the BBC Sport website and app.

When manager Tanya Oxtoby revealed her Northern Ireland squad for the upcoming Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Iceland on Friday there were a few headlines.

The absence of captain Simone Magill through a hip injury was the obvious one given her importance to the side.

Everyone loves some new faces so first call-ups for Glentoran teenager Mia Moore and San Diego-born forward Leyla McFarland also garnered excitement.

But another big talking point is the make-up of the defence, which has gone from having a fairly settled look under Oxtoby to quite the overhaul for this window.

The absentees

Laura Rafferty, Ellie Mason and Rachel Dugdale have all previously been regulars in Tanya Oxtoby's squad

Rewind to this time last year and NI's defence, and in particular the centre-back position, appeared stacked but injuries and retirements have since robbed Oxtoby of some of her regular picks.

In an ideal world, she would be able to include Rangers' Laura Rafferty, Charlton's Ellie Mason and Rachel Dugdale in her squad.

Rafferty has not played for NI since their 2-0 loss against Poland in the Nations League in February as she continues her recovery from groin surgery.

Mason stepped up in Rafferty's absence and started NI's remaining five Nations League games after Poland, either as one of the two or three centre-backs deployed, but she is also out injured this window.

Dugdale started four of NI's six fixtures in the Nations League, including their final game, a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in June, as they finished second in Group B1 behind Poland.

That proved to be the 28-year-old's 43rd and final cap as she announced her retirement from football last month.

Cliftonville captain Kelsie Burrows, who has often been a late call-up to NI squads due to injuries, made herself unavailable for this window alongside experienced left-back Demi Vance.

The enforced absences have inevitably led to Oxtoby exploring other avenues to address the personnel problems.

Recalls and other options

Sarah McFadden last played for Northern Ireland in February 2024

The absence of Rafferty, Mason and Dugdale has paved the way for the welcome return of 38-year-old Durham centre-back Sarah McFadden.

The 106-cap defender has not featured for NI since February 2024 after returning from a long injury lay-off and from giving birth to her second child just six months ago.

The worrisome thing for Northern Ireland is that McFadden has one more cap than the five other defenders listed in the latest squad combined.

The inclusions of Birmingham City duo Rebecca McKenna and Rebecca Holloway were always a given.

McKenna is one of the first names on the team sheet, making the right-back berth her own and racking up 55 caps at just 24.

Holloway is another who has been a regular starter under Oxtoby, either at left-back or as the left-sided centre-back in a three when needed.

That may just be the role she is tasked with playing against Iceland due to the dearth of options NI have available at the moment.

Toni-Leigh Finnegan can play at centre-back or in midfield

The other three defenders listed have fewer than 10 caps each and, while different ages, all are still really in the infancy of their international careers.

Linfield defender Abi Sweetlove is the least experienced, with her sole cap coming in the 4-0 defeat against Poland at Seaview in May in what was a baptism of fire for the 19-year-old.

Then there is Nottingham Forest's Nat Johnson, who has added five more NI caps since her debut against Croatia last year, steadily growing in stature in the squad through 2025 when filling in at full-back and centre-back.

Finally, there is Aberdeen's Toni-Leigh Finnegan, who won the last of her eight caps in February 2024.

A regular for her Scottish side, she is equally adept at playing centre-back or in holding midfield, where she starred for Cliftonville before her move across the water.

Who could start against Iceland?

Whether Oxtoby decides to go with four or five at the back for the first leg at the Ballymena Showgrounds on Friday will influence who starts and plays where.

She has used both systems throughout her tenure, tending to deploy a five against high-quality opposition like Poland and Norway.

If fit enough, you would imagine McFadden slots straight back in at centre-back given her experience for a big tie which, if NI win, would elevate them into League A.

Having been exposed to the quality of Poland and enjoyed another solid campaign as a regular at Linfield, Sweetlove may be brought in as a more natural centre-back than the other versatile defenders included in the panel.

NI's defensive struggles as a unit that night may count against the young defender however, especially as Iceland are a side ranked 17th in the world who recently competed at Euro 2025, putting three past Norway when losing by the odd goal in seven in their final group game.

If it is a back four, McKenna and Holloway will likely play at right and left-back.

If it is five, one of Holloway or Johnson could fill in a centre-back role alongside McFadden and Sweetlove with the other occupying the left-wing back role with McKenna at right wing-back.

Finnegan could also come in as a third centre-back as an alternative to one of McFadden, Sweetlove and either Holloway or Johnson.

Another potential option which has been used by Oxtoby in the past when seeking to add more experience to the side is using midfielder Nadene Caldwell at centre-back.

Caldwell, who has won 89 caps, was partnered by Mason in the home win against Romania and was then deployed in a back three against Poland at Seaview.

So, there are plenty of potential pairings and partnerships, with centre-back places clearly up for grabs for the first leg and the return in Reykjavik on Tuesday in a way few would have expected this time last year.