Glentoran's Kerr receives first Northern Ireland call-up
Glentoran midfielder Aimee Kerr has received her first call-up to the Northern Ireland squad for their Nations League double-header against Romania.The 18-year-old previously captained NI at under-19 level and replaces club teammate Chloe McCarron in the squad after impressing in her first Women's Premiership season.Tanya Oxtoby's side are second Group B1 after a defeat against Poland and a home win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in their first two games.They face Romania, who are bottom of the group after two defeats in their first two games, in Bucharest on Friday 4 April before a return game at Windsor Park four days later.Oxtoby has also brought in Linfield defender Abi Sweetlove for Nottingham Forest full-back Nat Johnson in the only other change from her February squad.Sweetlove, who also captained NI at under-19 level, was in the squad for the Euro play-off win against Croatia but was an unused substitute. Glentoran duo Nadene Caldwell and Kascie Weir, who were late additions to the squad last month, retain their places.Striker Weir made her debut off the bench in the 2-0 loss in Gdansk before making her first start and impressing in the 3-2 comeback win against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Inver Park.Captain Simone Magill is one of four Birmingham City players named in the 23-player squad alongside Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason.
Northern Ireland squad
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, 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).
Analysis - Youth at heart of Oxtoby's NI
What was an already youthful looking Northern Ireland squad has just got younger with the two newest additions.Aimee Kerr and Abi Sweetlove are the latest players to come through the under-19 production line after Keri Halliday and Kascie Weir in the last few months.Halliday and now Weir have transitioned seamlessly to senior level and have impressed, showing the pathway is there and that Northern Ireland are producing exciting young players.Kerr and Sweetlove will be confident of making a similar impression as they have caught the eye whilst playing regularly in the domestic league like Halliday and Weir.Linfield's Sweetlove will know what to expect having trained with the squad and alongside experienced defenders ahead of the second leg of the Euro play-off against Croatia while for Kerr the rise is far more meteoric.After four years playing with Ballyclare Comrades in the second tier, she made the move to Women's Premiership side Glentoran in 2024 and has not looked back.With a player of the match display in their Women's Champions League game against Pyunik and then winning the club's Players' Player of the Year award, she will offer Northern Ireland that a creative spark.
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