Important to get early points on board – Caldwell

Important to get early points on board – Caldwell

Long-serving Northern Ireland midfielder Nadene Caldwell says the team shall be “keen to get some early points on the board” and “build up a bit of momentum” to increase their qualification campaign for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

The squad kick off their group matches by taking on Switzerland on Tuesday, before welcoming Turkey to Mourneview Park on Saturday.

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Interim supervisor Kris Lindsay is taking cost of the aspect for no less than the first pair of 2027 qualifiers as the seek for Tanya Oxtoby’s everlasting successor continues.

Northern Ireland will play Malta residence and away in April, before ending the sequence with additional fixtures against Turkey and Switzerland.

“This is going to be a very tough group and for us that starts against Switzerland, before our full focus will turn to Turkey,” Caldwell told BBC Sport NI’s Nicola McCarthy.

“For us it’s important to try and get some points on the board early so that the team can kick on in confidence and really kick on the campaign.

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“It’s a crammed fixture record however we must strive to build up a little bit of momentum.”

Caldwell added that the opener against Switzerland represents a tough start but welcomes the opportunity for the side to test themselves against top opposition.

“The main factor for us is that we’re getting competitive games and you’ll measure your self against the best gamers in the world. That can only make you better as a participant.

“Take the positives from one game and move onto the next, and hopefully we can go on a good run.

“Switzerland, top seeds away from residence…a troublesome fixture however I might say the strain is all on them. They’re top seeds and we all know we’re going to have to take up a variety of strain at instances.”

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‘We have to use the ball well’

Northern Ireland are second seeds in the group and Caldwell says the hope is that position will be reflected in the qualifying table come the end of the campaign.

“We need to be second in the group. That’s the place we’re seeded and the rest can be a disappointment.

“Turkey will be a massive test for us, in and around us in the rankings, so we’ll really look forward to that, but we’re fully focused on Switzerland first.

“We have to use the ball nicely when we now have it and go and specific ourselves and actually present what it means to play for Northern Ireland.”

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With regular captain Simone Magill taking time out from the game as she is pregnant, Caldwell is unsure who will assume the skipper’s armband in her absence, and whether Lindsay will remain at the helm for April’s matches.

“It’s not one thing we have spoken about [the captaincy] – there are a variety of nice leaders within the group and that management function can are available in any form or kind.

“We obviously don’t know what’s happening with Kris but we’ll fully focus on these two games and then we’ll regroup for the rest of the campaign.”

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