WILDGOOSE ON NORTHERN IRELAND U19S JOURNEY

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Defender progresses past age group level

2024-06-14T09:00:00.000Z

WILDGOOSE ON NORTHERN IRELAND U19S JOURNEY

Defender progresses past age group level

2024-06-14T09:00:00.000Z

Defender progresses past age group level

Women’s team defender Mikayla Wildgoose has represented Northern Ireland at U19s level during 2023/24, describing the call-ups as a ‘privilege’.

The 19-year-old was part of the Green and White Army’s UEFA Women’s U19 EURO 2024 qualifying campaign, with the Northern Irish ultimately missing out on the showpiece event in Lithuania.

After joining Burnley in August 2023 Wildgoose made a positive start to the season, starting Rebecca Sawiuk’s team’s opening seven matches in all competitions.

Then came the first round of international fixtures, with Northern Ireland facing France, Italy and Hungary between Wednesday 25th and Tuesday 31st October.

After sitting out the French test, Wildgoose played the entirety of a defeat to Italy and a one-all draw with Hungary.

The centre-back returned to Lancashire and slotted straight back into the Clarets XI, scoring her first and only goal of the season in a 9-1 FA Cup second round rout over Alnwick Town.

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Unfortunately, she then suffered an ankle injury that kept her out for a lengthy period of time.

Her return to action came at the start of April for Northern Ireland, when she played the last half hour of a convincing 5-0 victory over Georgia.

Game time was increased to 45 minutes in a goalless draw with Kazakhstan three days later before Wildgoose earned a first start since that FA Cup tie with Alnwick, playing 75 minutes of a 2-0 victory over Estonia.

Wildgoose, who was born in Northern Ireland but spent much of her childhood in the Midlands, then returned to Burnley and featured off the bench in the Clarets’ last three games of the season.

This included league matches at Turf Moor against Liverpool Feds and Derby County, and the 9-1 Lancashire FA Senior Cup final win over West Didsbury & Chorlton.

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“It’s a big privilege every time I get called up by Northern Ireland and I’m always proud to wear the badge,” she said.

“I’ll always give 100% for Northern Ireland and it’s a great thing to have on my footballing CV.

“In the first half of the season it was a bit tough to manage the balance of club and international football, but I value both as being important.”

Because of her age, Wildgoose is no longer eligible to represent Gail Redmond’s U19s. The next step would be a call-up to Tanya Oxtoby’s senior squad, where she could well join Burnley teammate Brenna McPartlan who recently made her full debut.

Wildgoose added: “I was absolutely buzzing and so happy for Brenna! It’s such a good thing to see and it would be great to be playing together for the seniors at some point.”