Northern Ireland defender Holloway ruled out of England and Austria fixtures | OneFootball

Northern Ireland international defender Rebecca Holloway has confirmed that she will not be fit to face England or Austria in the coming days.

The 26-year-old Birmingham City defender was called up by Northern Ireland head coach Kenny Shiels for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia New Zealand 2023 qualifying double header. The Green and White Army face England at Wembley on Saturday before entertaining Austria in Belfast on Tuesday.

The Irish Football Association provided FAWSL Full-Time with a squad update on Monday, confirming that defender Holloway had ‘only an extremely slim chance’ of facing England but the player has today taken to her personal Twitter account to confirm the news that she will not be fit to face the Lionesses or Austria.

Northern Ireland head coach Shiels will also be without Everton striker Simone Magill for Saturday’s fixture at Wembley due to a family bereavement while Crusaders attacker Emily Wilson is also a doubt.

After sealing qualification for the UEFA Women’s EURO finals for the very first time in April, Northern Ireland have started their FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia New Zealand 2023 qualification campaign with back-to-back wins. Shiels’ side go into their latest match on the back of an eight-game winning streak in qualifying fixtures, although England will be much stronger opponents than what they have recently faced.