NI striker Magill set to miss Women’s World Cup qualifier at Wembley

Simone Magill out of Northern Ireland Wembley clash
Photo: Charles McQuillan (Shekicks.net uses pictured provided by Getty Images)

Northern Ireland will be without Everton striker Simone Magill for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifier against England.

Manager Kenny Shiels revealed that Magill will not be available to play in the game at Wembley Stadium on Saturday due to a family bereavement.

However, he is hopeful that the striker, who was absent for the qualifiers against Luxembourg and Latvia in September due to injury, will be available for next week’s group game against Austria in Belfast.

There is also a major injury concern over Rebecca Holloway, Shiels said the Birmingham City defender has “Only an extremely slim chance” of playing at Wembley this weekend. Magill and Holloway are the only players in the Northern Ireland squad who play in the FA’s Women’s Super League.

Also carrying a knock is Crusaders Strikers forward Emily Wilson, who came on as a second half substitute for her club in the Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup Final on Friday.

Wilson had been receiving treatment on an injury prior to the final against Glentoran and it appears this may have been aggravated, however Shiels said there is “a possibility” the young striker may be available for the trip to London.

Apart from that Shiels has a clean bill of health in his squad ahead of the crunch European Qualifying Group D games.

The Northern Ireland boss further revealed he expects to bring in a couple of players as cover for those members of his squad who may miss the matches against England and Austria, the first and second seeds in the group respectively.

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