21-05-2025
Northern Ireland Women dealt injury blow as midfield star pulls out ahead of key double-header
The midfielder has picked up a hamstring injury that has ruled her out for the clashes at home to Poland and away to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Nottingham Forest Women defender Nat Johnson has been called up to replace the 26-year-old Scofield, who has been a regular in Oxtoby's starting line-up since switching allegiance and making her debut for Northern Ireland in 2024.
The London-born midfielder has just completed a loan spell at Sheffield United Women in the FA Women's Championship from London City Lionesses, while she also previously plied her trade for Leicester City Women in the Women's Super League.
Scofield's withdrawal is unwelcome news for Oxtoby with Northern Ireland facing Poland at Seaview on Friday, May 30 (7.00pm) before travelling to Zenica to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, June 3 (6.00pm BST) in two crucial Nations League B, Group 1 encounters.
With Northern Ireland sitting second in the group with seven points from four games as they stare into the final two games of the League, the first clash sees them lock horns with unbeaten League leaders Poland, who have 10 points, before tackling the third-placed Bosnians who are perched on four points.
Their current position would be good enough for a Promotion Play-Off to get into League A, however failing to beat Poland would rule out their chances of automatic promotion courtesy of their inferior head-to-head record.
Similarly, they are at risk of falling into a Relegation Play-Off. Bettering third-placed Bosnia's result against winless Romania on Matchday Five would eliminate that possibility and confirm Northern Ireland's League B survival, however any other outcome would ensure their fate goes right down to the final day.
