Oxtoby names NI squad for Malta and Bosnia games

Tanya Oxtoby's Northern Ireland beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 in Zenica in April

Cliftonville midfielder Louise McDaniel has retained her place in the Northern Ireland squad for this month's Euro 2025 qualifying double-header against Malta and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

McDaniel was a late call-up to the last squad, replacing the injured Megan Bell, who is yet to regain fitness.

Northern Ireland, who sit third in League B3 with four points from four matches, travel to Malta on 12 July before hosting Bosnia-Herzegovina at Windsor Park in Belfast four days later.

Portugal have a maximum 12 points while Bosnia-Herzegovina have six points.

Tanya Oxtoby's side will advance to the play-offs phase of the Euro 2025 qualifiers with victory over Malta in Ta’Qali.

Northern Ireland are aiming to qualify for their second successive Euros having reached the Euro 2022 finals in England, the team's first major tournament.

Oxtoby said her squad selection reflected progress during the last international window, which saw Northern Ireland lose 2-1 to top seeds Portugal having lost 4-0 in Leiria.

“We are keen to keep the momentum going and obviously this group (of players) is really together and looking forward to the next challenge,” said Oxtoby.

Northern Ireland were held to a frustrating scoreless draw by Malta at Windsor Park in the opening qualifier in April.

In addition to Bell, London City Lionesses midfielder Connie Scofield and Birmingham City's Ellie Mason are unavailable because of injury.

Oxtoby is yet to confirm who will replace Marissa Callaghan as Northern Ireland captain.

The Cliftonville midfielder, 38, stepped down as skipper in May, with Laura Rafferty and Jackie Burns - who has just left Reading - taking the armband for the Portugal matches.

Northern Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (unattached), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Lauren Perry (Montrose).

Defenders: Rebecca Holloway and Rebecca McKenna (both Birmingham City), Laura Rafferty (Rangers), Demi Vance (Glentoran), Rachel Dugdale (Reading), Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville).

Midfielders: Joely Andrews, Nadene Caldwell and Chloe McCarron (all Glentoran), Marissa Callaghan and Louise McDaniel (both Cliftonville), Brenna McPartlan (Burnley).

Forwards: Kerry Beattie and Emily Wilson (both Glentoran), Simone Magill (unattached), Lauren Wade (unattached), Keri Halliday (Linfield), Casey Howe (Athlone Town), Caragh Hamilton (unattached), Danielle Maxwell (Cliftonville).