Kenny Shiels names Northern Ireland squad for trip to Belarus

Kenny Shiels has named his Northern Ireland squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifying game away to Belarus.

Northern Ireland are fourth in their group, three points behind second placed Wales, with the Welsh still having to play host to the groups top seeds Norway. 

Last time out in Torshavn the Green and White army beat the Faroe Island's 6-0 thanks to goals from Rachel Furness, Kirsty McGuinness and braces from Lauren Wade and Simone Magill. 

Shiels’ side were originally meant to play Belarus away in Group C back in April, before the home qualifiers against Belarus and Faroe Islands in June, but all three matches were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Sheffield United Women's goalkeeper Becky Flaherty makes a return to the squad after missing the last squad with a hip injury. 

However she is now fully fit and has returned to training with the Blades who are currently second in the FA Women's Championship behind Durham. 

Fellow Blades star Natalie Johnson also makes a return to the side ahead of the trip to Minsk next Tuesday, the defender was last capped in March 2019.

Also making a return to the panel is Linfield Ladies defender Kelsie Burrows after the highly rated 19 year old missed out on the trip to the Faroe Island's with an injury. 

Sion Swifts striker Caitlin McGuinness is also back in the frame as she joins sister Kirsty in the squad for the crunch showdown as they've netted 12 goals in just 5 games between them during the Danske Bank Women's Premiership season catching the eye of Shiels. 

Cliftonville captain Marissa Callaghan is included in the 21 player squad after missing last month’s game against the Faroese for personal reasons.

18 year old Danielle Maxwell also has earned herself a recall to the squad as the Glentoran midfielder last appeared for the senior women’s team at the Pinatar Cup tournament in Spain earlier this year. 

She replaces Glens team-mate Caragh Milligan, who had to withdraw from the squad over the weekend due to injury. 

Dropping out of the squad for this fixture are Toni-Leigh Finnegan, Rachel Newborough, Rebecca McKenna and Kerry Beattie. 

Rachel Furness is named in the squad after she won Liverpool's Standard Chartered player of the month award for September and also picked up the FA Women's Championship player of the month award in the process. 

Everton forward Magill also comes into the game on good form as she has scored twice for the Toffees this season, once against Bristol City in the Women's Super League, and she opened the scoring against Birmingham City in the FA Women's Cup semi-final as Everton reached Wembley where they will play Manchester City on November 1st. 

Rangers Women midfielder Megan Bell missed their opening day Scottish Women's Premiership 5-1 victory over Hearts with an injury and due to that misses out for Northern Ireland as Emma McMaster is also out with a long term injury. 

After next week’s match, Northern Ireland are set to take on Belarus at home on 27 November before facing Faroe Islands at home on 1 December - both matches will be at Seaview - to complete their Group C qualification campaign.

If they win all their remaining matches in the group then Northern Ireland will have a chance of competing for a place at Women’s Euro 2022, which is being staged in England.

Nine group winners, plus three runners-up with the best records, will automatically qualify for the tournament. The other six runners-up will play off for the remaining three berths in the 16-team finals.

Northern Ireland squad 

Goalkeepers

Jackie Burns (Glentoran Women), Lauren Perry (Forfar Farmington) Becky Flaherty (Sheffield United). 

Defenders

Kelsie Burrows (Linfield Ladies), Natalie Johnson (Sheffield United), Ashley Hutton (Linfield), Abbie Magee (Linfield), Julie Nelson (Crusaders), Demi Vance (Rangers). 

Midfielders 

Joely Andrews (Glentoran), Nadene Caldwell (Glentoran), Marissa Callaghan (Cliftonville), Rachel Furness (Liverpool), Samantha Kelly (Glentoran), Chloe McCarron (Birmingham City), Sarah Robson (Durham), Danielle Maxwell (Glentoran). 

Forwards 

Simone Magill (Everton), Caitlin McGuinness (Sion Swifts), Kirsty McGuinness (Sion Swifts), Lauren Wade (Glasgow City).