Women's Nations League: Glens midfielder Kerr earns first NI call-up

Glentoran midfielder Aimee Kerr has received her first senior international call up for Northern Ireland Women's Nations League double header against Romania.

Kerry, who has played for and captained her country at Under-19 and Under-17 level, is the one new face in the panel and he 18-year-old replaces her Glens team-mate Chloe McCarron, who is injured.

Oxtoby’s team are due to face the Romanians in League B Group 1 on Friday April 4th at the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest and then back in Belfast on Tuesday April 8th – at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.

Northern Ireland currently lie second in the B1 group on three points, behind Poland on six points, after a defeat against the Poles away and a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at home in their opening group fixtures. Romania started their campaign with a 4-0 defeat away to the Bosnians and then narrowly lost 1-0 at home to top seeds Poland.

Oxtoby’s squad shows four changes from the panel originally chosen for the opening group matches.

Aberdeen striker Kerry Beattie and Cliftonville Ladies defender Kelsie Burrows had to withdraw from the squad last month due to injury. Glentoran Women pair Nadene Caldwell and Kascie Weir, their two late replacements, have retained their places in the squad.

It was Weir’s first call-up to the senior panel and she made her senior international debut as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat to Poland before starting the 3-2 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Also missing this time is Nottingham Forest Women defender Natalie Johnson. She has been replaced by 18-year-old Linfield Women defender Abi Sweetlove, who is yet to make her senior debut, but has been in the senior squad before.

Forest striker Casey Howe is still out after missing last month’s trip to Gdansk and the home game against the Bosnians due to injury.

Northern Ireland Women's squad v Romania:

Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (Bristol City Women), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Rachael Norney (Liverpool Feds).

Defenders: Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason (all Birmingham City Women), Laura Rafferty (Rangers Women), Rachel Dugdale (Blackburn Rovers Women), Abi Sweetlove (Linfield Women).

Midfielders: Louise McDaniel and Brenna McPartlan (both Burnley Women), Nadene Caldwell and Aimee Kerr (both Glentoran Women), Joely Andrews (Hearts Women), Megan Bell (Nottingham Forest Women), Connie Scofield (Sheffield United Women, on loan from London City Lionesses).

Forwards: Emily Wilson and Kascie Weir (both Glentoran Women), Lauren Wade (Hearts Women), Simone Magill (Birmingham City Women), Keri Halliday (Linfield Women), Danielle Maxwell (Burnley Women), Caragh Hamilton (Nottingham Forest Women).