Chambers Included in Northern Ireland Squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Uncapped striker Cora Chambers has been named in the first Northern Ireland squad selected by new manager Michael McArdle for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Malta in April.
The 22-year-old forward, who previously represented Northern Ireland at under-19 level, was part of Kenny Shiels' full-time panel ahead of Euro 2022 but did not participate in the tournament and has not featured for the senior team since then.
Chambers plays for Linfield and scored 20 league goals for the club last year. Since joining Linfield from Sion Swifts in 2024, she has accumulated 39 goals in 47 appearances.
Her inclusion represents one of two changes from the squad that lost both fixtures under interim manager Kris Lindsay against Switzerland and Turkey.
Hearts midfielder Joely Andrews also returns to the 23-player squad after missing the previous month's matches due to injury.
Experienced defender Sarah McFadden has been moved to the standby list, while Glentoran midfielder Mia Moore, who made her first start in the defeat against Turkey, will join the under-19 squad competing in European qualifiers this month.
Michael McArdle, formerly the Scottish FA's head of elite women's football and interim head coach of Scotland, was appointed as the permanent Northern Ireland manager in March, succeeding Tanya Oxtoby.
His managerial debut for Northern Ireland will be at Mourneview Park against Malta on Tuesday, 14 April, followed by an away match in Malta on Saturday, 18 April. The team aims to secure their first qualifying victory during this double-header.
Northern Ireland Women's Squad
Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (Bristol City), Lauren Perry (Montrose), Abbie Smith (Manchester City Women).
Defenders: Rebecca Holloway (Birmingham City), Rebecca McKenna (Birmingham City), Abi Sweetlove (Linfield), Natalie Johnson (Nottingham Forest), Ellie Mason (Charlton), Laura Rafferty (Rangers).
Midfielders: Nadene Caldwell (Glentoran), Aimee Kerr (Glentoran), Joely Andrews (Hearts), Louise McDaniel (Burnley), Brenna McPartlan (Burnley), Megan Bell (Linfield), Leyla McFarland (Durham).
Forwards: Lauren Wade (Hearts), Keri Halliday (Hearts), Caragh Hamilton (Sunderland, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Kascie Weir (Glentoran), Danielle Maxwell (Burnley), Casey Howe (Wolverhampton Wanderers, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Cora Chambers (Linfield).
