International football
Rachel Furness ruled out by a hamstring injury
Rachel Furness has picked up a hamstring injury and will miss Northern Ireland’s Nations League clashes with Albania and the Republic of Ireland.
The experienced Bristol City player has scored a record 38 goals in 95 international appearances for Northern Ireland but will have to sit out this double header.
Midfielder Furness joined Bristol in January and helped the Robins win promotion to the Women’s Super League.
The 35-year-old won’t make the trip to Albania on December 1 or the Belfast game with the Republic of Ireland four days later.
“She won’t go on international camp and will be out for maybe four weeks,” said Bristol City boss Lauren Smith.
“Rachel got an injury in the last game - we won’t see her any time soon but hopefully she quickens up that timeline because she’s been excellent at the start of the season for us.”
Northern Ireland sit third in Group B1, three points clear of bottom side Albania.
Meanwhile, League-winning Peamount United forward Ellen Dolan has received her first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior women’s national team ahead of their Nations League double-header against Hungary and Northern Ireland.
After hitting seven goals this term and winning Player of the Month this morning, 17-year-old Dolan is one of two Peamount players included along fellow forward Erin McLaughlin while West Ham United’s Jessie Stapleton earns a recall following her WSL debut. London City Lionesses midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn also returns to the side.
There are no places for the Republic’s World Cup play-off hero Amber Barrett though while her Standard Liege teammate Claire O’Riordan also misses out, as the players arrive into camp in
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