Simone Magill returns to Northern Ireland training with family in camp

Northern Ireland captain Simone Magill has rejoined the national squad for training after the birth of her daughter, with her family staying in camp as she works towards a playing return. In an interview with BBC Sport NI, the Birmingham City striker said the arrangements had allowed her to combine football preparations with caring for Skye, who was born in May.

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Magill, 31, is not ready to take part in the first round of Northern Ireland's World Cup play-offs against Portugal. She is nevertheless training with the group following discussions with manager Michael McArdle. Her husband, Mark, and Skye are staying for the duration of the camp, giving her practical support while she takes part in sessions and team meetings. She hopes to resume playing matches later in the autumn.

The family are included in meals and the squad's free time, while Mark looks after Skye when Magill has football commitments. Magill told the BBC that support from the Irish FA and her team-mates had eased her concerns about returning to the group. She described being able to bring her daughter as central to making the arrangement work, rather than having to choose between motherhood and continuing her career.

BBC Sport NI reported that Magill is the first Northern Ireland player to have her family integrated into camp in this way, although she is not the first mother to return to the team. Defender Sarah McFadden had her second child in 2024. Magill identified McFadden as a role model and said she wanted younger players to see that continuing to play after having a child was possible.

Magill stopped playing matches when she learned she was pregnant but continued training and gym work until a few weeks before the birth. She resumed gym sessions four weeks afterwards and returned to the pitch after 13 weeks. Now back in full training, she has not yet completed her return to competitive matches.

The striker is five appearances short of 100 Northern Ireland caps and is the women's team's second-highest scorer. She told the BBC that the prospect of carrying Skye onto the pitch for her international return had helped motivate her comeback.