NI squad depth 'tested right to the core' - Oxtoby

Oxtoby's side are aiming for promotion to League A for the first time, which would help their seeding for the 2027 World Cup

Nations League play-off: Northern Ireland v Iceland

Date: Friday, 24 October Kick-off: 19:00 BST Venue: Ballymena Showgrounds

Coverage: Live stream on BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport app and website

Northern Ireland boss Tanya Oxtoby said the country's strength in depth has been "tested right to the core" in this international window and team selection will go "right down to the wire".

Oxtoby is without a host of experienced players including captain Simone Magill, defenders Laura Rafferty and Ellie Mason, and midfielder Brenna McPartlan for their Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Iceland.

And the Australian admitted she has yet to settle on her starting side for the first leg on Friday night.

"The depth chart has been tested right to the core for this window, but I think you can look at that one of two ways," she told BBC Sport NI.

"You can wallow and get caught up in the players that aren't here, but for us, it's about the ones who are here and we've been bringing youth through and we're in a good position that some of the younger players are three and four camps in and have more experience.

"We are trying to build that depth, it will be a test against a really good side, but I'm confident in the group that is going to go out tomorrow [Friday] night.

"We know what we're going after from a strategy point of view, but who are going to fill those roles, not yet."

Glentoran's Demi Vance and Cliftonville defender Kelsie Burrows also made themselves unavailable for selection, and Oxtoby added she "can't focus on them" as there are "players who are here and want to play for their country".

McFadden's experience 'will go a long way'

McFadden has not played for Northern Ireland since February 2024

The absences, as well as that of the now retired Rachel Dugdale, have 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, as well as giving birth to her second child just six months ago. and Oxtoby is delighted to have her back in the squad.

"Her experience - she has over 100 caps for her country and knows what it means to play in these big games - so it's great to have her back, for her too, and especially when we have a lot of youngsters she can share a lot of her experience," Oxtoby continued.

"She has done everything we have asked of her, and I think she has come back in even better shape than before so that speaks to the work she's done.

"From our point of view it's how we manage her, it's a big step up from club football to the international stage but to have her here, her experience will go a long way."

Since the Nations League started in 2023, Northern Ireland have always been in League B and this is their first shot at reaching the top flight.

They are up against an Iceland side who qualified for Euro 2025, and are ranked 17th in the world, 27 places above NI, although their pre-Euros friendly win over Serbia is their only victory in the past 12 months.

While acknowledging they will pose a stern test for her young side, Oxtoby is hopeful NI can come away with something from the Ballymena Showgrounds to take to Reykjavik for the second leg on Tuesday.

"We want to be in positions like this, we have earned the right to be here and we want to test ourselves against a really good side.

"That's the aim [to get a result]. We want to start well, give ourselves an opportunity and something to build on.

"After tomorrow night, we will have a really good gauge of where we are at."