Simone Magill rejoins Northern Ireland training camp with daughter after maternity break

Northern Ireland captain Simone Magill has rejoined the national squad for training after giving birth to her daughter, Skye, in May, with her husband and child staying alongside the team. BBC Sport NI reported that the Birmingham City striker is fully training again but is not yet ready to return to international matches.

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The 31-year-old joined the camp following discussions with Northern Ireland manager Michael McArdle. The opening round of World Cup play-offs against Portugal has come too early for her playing comeback, and she hopes to resume matches later in the autumn. Her involvement currently centres on training after an absence from the squad stretching back to her pregnancy announcement last November.

The arrangement allows Magill's husband, Mark, to look after Skye while she attends football sessions and team meetings. The family joins the squad for meals and time away from training. Magill told the BBC that support from the Irish FA and her team-mates had eased her return, allowing her to concentrate on football while continuing to care for her daughter.

Magill is not the first Northern Ireland player to resume her career after childbirth: defender Sarah McFadden had her second child in 2024. However, the BBC reported that Magill is the first to have her family integrated into the national team's camp. She acknowledged feeling apprehensive before arriving and said that any additional support needs would become clearer as everyone worked through the arrangement together.

Her return to training has followed several stages. Magill stopped playing matches after discovering she was pregnant but continued training and gym work until a few weeks before the birth. She resumed gym sessions four weeks after Skye arrived and returned to the pitch after 13 weeks. She said ending her football career had not been her intention when she announced the pregnancy.

Magill made her senior international debut at 15 and is now five appearances short of 100 caps, as well as Northern Ireland women's second-highest scorer. She identified McFadden as a role model for combining family life with football and hopes her own experience will encourage younger players. One personal ambition is to carry Skye onto the pitch when she makes her international return.