Sparta Prague forward Kess Elmore is a surprise first call-up for Northern Ireland’s 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off with Portugal.

Elmore, 27, is a former England youth international and is one of five new call-ups in Michael McArdle’s squad.

Galway United full back Lucy-Jayne Grant is included for the first time, as are the Irish Premiership trio Naomi McLaughlin, Jane McMaster and Charlotte Havern.

Havern has had a strong campaign for champions Cliftonville, while McMaster has stood out for Linfield and McLaughlin has impressed for Glentoran after a mid-season switch back to the league from Aberdeen.

There are several absentees through injury, including Kelsie Burrows, Laura Rafferty, Nadene Caldwell, Megan Bell, Joely Andrews, Danielle Maxwell and Caragh Hamilton.

Northern Ireland host Portugal at Inver Park on Friday, 9 October before the return leg in Portimao four days later.

The sides last met in Euro 2025 qualifying when Portugal ran out 4-0 winners in Liera before a narrow 2-1 victory at Mourneview Park.

If McArdle’s side can upset Portugal, who are ranked 28 places higher than NI, then they would face Iceland or Croatia in the next play-off round.

While the majority of teams who win the second play-off round will progress to the finals in Brazil, Northern Ireland’s ranking means they would likely face an additional inter-continental play-off round in February, as the lowest European side, if they are to make a first World Cup.

Northern Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (Burnley), Lauren Perry (Montrose), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Cliftonville)

Defenders: Rebecca Holloway (Birmingham City), Rebecca McKenna (Birmingham City), Ellie Mason (Charlton), Natalie Johnson (Norwich City), Fi Morgan (Celtic), Abi Sweetlove (Linfield), Emily Cassap (Sunderland), Lucy-Jayne Grant (Galway United ), Jane McMaster (Linfield)

Midfielders: Aimee Kerr (Glentoran), Mia Moore (Glentoran), Brenna McPartlan (Burnley), Keri Halliday (Hearts), Connie Scofield (Sheffield United), Naomi McLaughlin (Glentoran), Charlotte Havern (Cliftonville).

Forwards: Lauren Wade (Hearts), Casey Howe (Celtic), Leyla McFarland (Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland), Cora Chambers (Linfield), Kess Elmore (Sparta Prague).

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards says he felt “absolutely devastated” after reading the Premier League’s “damning” guilty verdict on the club’s financial charges.

An independent commission found that City arranged “sham contracts” with a number of commercial partners as part of a scheme to disguise secret funding of more than £830m.

The league confirmed City have been found guilty of all charges related to breaches of financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, and all but one in relation to failure to co-operate with the investigation.

The club continue to deny any wrongdoing and have until 2 October to submit an appeal.

During that nine-year period the Sky Blues won the Premier League three times, with Richards part of their title-winning squad in 2011-12.

“The reports were troubling,” he said on The Rest is Football podcast. “I saw the words which were used by the Premier League in ‘sham contracts’ and I felt absolutely devastated.

“I was at that club since I was 14 years old, I would die for that club. I achieved my dream at Manchester City, but then to hear these reports, and not only me as an ex-player, but the fans, what they have to go through, absolutely devastating.”

While Richards was part of the City’s youth academy he lived in ‘digs’ with a local family who are long-term supporters of the club.

The 38-year-old added: “My digs man, he rang me and he was literally in tears and asking me about information, which I don’t know. I haven’t got the answers to tell him.

“That’s someone who’s supported the club for 60-odd years and the uncertainty around it is just heartbreaking.

“To have a headline of this nature for a club that I love so much, it’s been difficult. If you listen to the reports, they are damning.

“I feel saddened, I feel angry, I feel a little bit confused because, on the other side, you have City’s side of the story.”

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said in a statement on Saturday that the club is still confident of proving its innocence, while on Tuesday chief executive Ferran Soriano said in a video message, external to staff and players that “irrefutable evidence” had been “ignored” by the commission.