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Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby says she is “really excited” by the inclusion of 16-year-old goalkeeper Abbie Smith in her squad for the forthcoming Nations League games against Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina.<\/b><\/p>\n
Smith has been named in the senior squad for the first time after joining Manchester City on a two-year scholarship from Crusaders Strikers in March.<\/p>\n
The teenager was brought in to train with the squad last month but is now officially part of the panel after impressing the NI boss.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland sit second in Group B1, four points behind the table-topping Poles before the final pair of fixtures.<\/p>\n
They will play the unbeaten group leaders at Seaview in Belfast on Friday, 30 May and then travel to Zenica to face third-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday, 3 June.<\/p>\n
“Abbie came in and she was seamless in relation to training intensity, being in and around the group and the maturity that she showed,” said Oxtoby.<\/p>\n
“There’s no doubting her talent so that was really impressive. The main thing when we’re looking at the younger players coming in is are they ready for that senior environment?”<\/p>\n
Oxtoby has involved other young players in recent squads also, including Aimee Kerr, Abi Sweetlove, Keri Halliday and Kascie Weir.<\/p>\n
“They’re all playing really well and they add a lot. They add a lot of quality to our group,” she added. <\/p>\n
“We know their ability says they are, but from a cultural and an emotional point of view, are they ready? There are elements of that we need to appreciate are quite difficult for young players to come into.<\/p>\n
“Our job is to support them in that and Abbie has really impressed in that area. We’re really excited to see how she goes in a full camp.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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