Worlds apart

Two Cliftonville players have been called up to the Northern Ireland squad for the forthcoming Women’s World Cup Qualifers against the Netherlands and Norway.

Striker Billie Simpson and midfielder Marissa Callaghan (below) are part of the panel that will travel to Eindhoven for Friday’s clash with the Dutch ahead of next Tuesday’s Shamrock Park encounter with Norway.

After three fixtures, Northern Ireland – who got the better of Slovakia last time out after starting their campaign with successive losses to the Norwegians and the Republic of Ireland – currently sit fourth in Group 3 and we naturally wish the Reds’ representation well as they bid to narrow the gap on the Netherlands at the summit.