Northern Ireland Women's Football Team

Image source, Getty Images

Nat Johnson has been called up to the Northern Ireland women's squad for the Nations League double-header against Romania.

The Nottingham Forest full-back replaces injured Rangers defender Laura Rafferty in Tanya Oxtoby's 23-player group.

Johnson, 31, has won three caps for NI, making her debut in a 1-0 win against Croatia in the Euro play-off second leg in October.

Northern Ireland face Romania in Bucharest on Friday, before a home game at Windsor Park against the same opposition on Tuesday, 8 April.

Oxtoby has also included 16-year-old goalkeeper Abbie Smith as a training player as the team prepare at Leicester City's training ground before flying to Romania on Wednesday.

Under-17 international Smith recently signed for Manchester City from Women's Premiership side Crusaders.

Lisburn Rangers 17-year-old goalkeeper Kate Smith will also join up with the squad as a training player next week.

Former England international Izzy Christiansen, as she did last month, has joined the coaching staff as NI target two wins which would keep them in contention for promotion from Group B1.

Image source, PACEMAKER

Tanya Oxtoby says the Irish Football Association's development of a new National Training Centre at Galgorm would be 'massively helpful".

It was revealed on Monday that the centre will be located next to the Galgorm Resort, just outside Ballymena

It would include elite pitches and facilities for men's and women's senior and youth teams, with planning permission being sought.

"It's massively helpful - we speak about it all the time, trying to create a high-performing environment," said Oxtoby ahead of Tuesday night's Nations Cup game against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"You've seen it with nations who have built training centres for their national teams – feeling like its yours and knowing what you're getting every single time you turn up and ultimately I suppose get the best performance for your playing group.

"That's what we're about so for us it's exciting, we're really looking forward to it."

Northern Ireland captain Simone Magill believes the training centre will help develop players.

"It's definitely something that we'll welcome," said the Birmingham City striker.

"If I look at my experiences of being in elite environments and facilities it just shows the dedication that the Association has to make things better and have those elite facilities here in Northern Ireland.

"For young players growing up to have something like that is only going to help develop the game here. Other countries already have those things and we don't want to fall behind here."

Image source, Press Eye

Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby says teenager Kascie Weir's debut in the 2-0 defeat by Poland shows the pathway available for young players.

The 18-year-old striker came off the bench with 16 minutes remaining as NI lost their opening Nations League game of 2025 to goals from Ewelina Kamczyk and Adriana Achcinska.

"I just said 'go and enjoy it'. You don't get that moment very often, or you only get it once, so she's earned it," Oxtoby said of Weir's international bow.

"She's gone on to the pitch, she's managed to sort of break the ice if you like, and that was the purpose of it for her, to get a feel for it and play probably with some of her idols I'd imagine as well.

"I'm really pleased for her and it shows the pathway and what we're trying to do here in terms of bringing players through."

Northern Ireland, who were captained by Rebecca McKenna in her 50th appearance for her country, conceded two goals in three first-half minutes against their Euro 2025-bound opponents in Gdansk.

Oxtoby's side looked more settled in possession in the second half - a positive the manager is taking into Tuesday's next Nations League game against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"We speak all the time that it's about the entire squad and you saw that again," Oxtoby added.

"It's really important from our point of view - and [it was a] much better second half from us as well so we're really looking forward to getting back home getting in front of our home fans."