Burrows and Maxwell back for NI's Portugal games

Cliftonville duo Danielle Maxwell and Kelsie Burrows return to the Northern Ireland squad for the Euro 2025 qualifiers double-header against Portugal.

Maxwell and Burrows missed last month's opening goalless home draw against Malta and the 3-1 win in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The return of the pair means their club-mate Louise McDaniel and Crusaders' Rachel McLaren drop out of the squad.

Another Cliftonville player Abbie Magee misses out on the squad with Connie Scofield an absentee because of the injury that she sustained on her debut against Malta and Ellie Mason and Sarah McFadden also unavailable because of injury.

Glentoran forward Emily Wilson retains her place in the squad after being a late call-up for last month's games.

Northern Ireland face the League B Group 3 table toppers in Leiria on 31 May with the return game at Mourneview Park four days later.

Portugal clinched opening wins over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Malta which puts them two points ahead of Tanya Oxtoby's Northern Ireland side going into the third series of group fixtures.

The Portuguese went into the group as top seeds, with Northern Ireland third seeds, and Oxtoby says the two games will be a "real challenge for us against a very good side".

“We are a team in transition with a lot of youth coming through and these two fixtures will really test us," said the Northern Ireland boss.

“Results are, of course, important but a good performance against a strong side like Portugal will stand us in good stead and give the team a lot of confidence. And in a high performing environment, confidence can be crucial.”

Northern Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Burns (Reading), Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Perry (Montrose)

Defenders: Holloway (Birmingham City), Rebecca McKenna (Charlton Athletic), Laura Rafferty (Southampton), Demi Vance (Glentoran), Rachel Dugdale (Reading), Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville)

Midfielders: Andrews (Glentoran), Caldwell (Glentoran), McCarron (Glentoran), Bell (Hearts - on loan from Rangers), Callaghan (Cliftonville), McPartlan (Burnley Women)

Forwards: Beattie (Glentoran), Wilson (Glentoran), Magill (Aston Villa), Wade (Reading), Halliday (Linfield), Howe (Athlone Town), Hamilton (Lewes), Maxwell (Cliftonville)