Captaining NI 'biggest honour of my career' - Magill

Euro 2025 play-off first round second leg: Northern Ireland v Croatia

Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Date: Tuesday, 29 October Kick-off: 19:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app.

Simone Magill says leading out Northern Ireland for the first time as captain will be the "biggest honour" of her career.

Magill has named as NI's new captain by Tanya Oxtoby after Marissa Callaghan stepped down from the role in May.

The Birmingham City forward will wear the armband at Windsor Park for the first time in the second leg of the Euro 2025 play-off with Croatia on Tuesday.

"It's a fantastic honour and something you dream about when you first start playing football," Magill told BBC Sport NI.

"They are a fantastic group of girls to lead out, so it's such an honour."

Magill, 29, made her senior Northern Ireland debut as a 15-year-old in 2010 and has scored 25 goals in 86 caps.

She said it was "a fantastic feeling" to be named as captain by Oxtoby.

"Many years ago, when you start playing it was always my dream to mine not only to play for Northern Ireland, but to lead the country out.

"I've had the opportunities to do that at underage levels but to do it for the senior team will be an absolute honour."

Northern Ireland drew 1-1 in Croatia in the first leg of the opening round of Euro 2025 play offs.

After conceding an early penalty, Oxtoby's side dominated possession and got a deserved late equaliser when Izabela Lojna turned into her own net.

If they progress on Tuesday night, Northern Ireland will face either Norway or Albaina for a place at the Euro finals. The Norwegians hold a 5-0 lead from the first leg.

"We knew it was going to be a difficult game away from home", who added she is "feeling great" after a summer move to Championship side Birmingham.

"They are a physical team and no doubt we will expect much of the same.

"The focus for us remains the same. There's still a job to be done.

"We'll take any wee frustrations we had from the other night and bring them into the game."

Knowing Northern Ireland need a positive result if they want to keep their hopes of qualifying for back-to-back Euros alive, Magill says she will try and do her talking on the pitch.

"The beautiful thing is that we've a lot of leaders in the group now," she added.

"A lot of people have stepped up to be that leader and bring their experience into it.

"I've got to use my experience, be loud and be vocal. I'll do a lot my talking on the pitch and hopefully the result will take of itself."

Oxtoby said that Magill "fell naturally" into a leadership role and is a leader away from the pitch as well as on it.

"It's about behaviours, not just when people are watching, but when they're not," added Oxtoby.

"Simone has been there and done it on every level.

"She is really helping the younger players coming through by sharing that knowledge and those experiences. That's a part of leadership."

Oxtoby added that she worked through a rigorous process and involved players and coaching staff.

"What did we want leadership to look like within the group, and what traits and behaviours?

"Simone epitomises all those things and she was doing it before the process even started.

"I'm really pleased for her that she gets the opportunity to walk out tomorrow night and lead her country. It's nothing more than she deserves."

Defender Laura Rafferty captained the side between Callaghan stepping down and Magill's confirmation and Oxtoby says she is "blessed with really good leaders".

"They are all different leaders and they all have a different approach to leadership," the Australian added.

"They are all taking the younger players under their wings. We have a fairly young squad. I feel like we have a really good balance in there at the moment.

"Whether you have got the armband or you don't, we are looking out for each other. The playing group are really buying into that, so it's a nice place to be."