Casey Howe has been named in the Northern Ireland for their upcoming Euro qualifiers against Malta and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Maguiresbridge native was called back into the squad by manager Tanya Oxtoby in April for opening group games against the same opposition.

In those fixtures, the squad was hit by a stomach bug that saw Oxtoby unable to travel for their 3-1 in Zenica as Howe came on as a substitute and grabbed an assist following a 0-0 draw with Malta.

Since then, Northern Ireland have suffered two defeats to Portugal losing 4-0 away and 2-1 at home at the end of May and beginning of June with Howe also coming off the bench in both those games.

The 21-year-old has been in form for her club Athlone Town and bagged her 10th goal of the season last week netting the opener in a 2-1 win away to Shamrock Rovers.

Athlone sit top of the table in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, three points ahead of second-place Shelbourne.

Portugal reside top of Group B3 in Euro qualifying action with Northern Ireland still in with a shout if they pick up wins this week.

They sit in third, two points behind Bosnia and Herzegovina in second, with Portugal already qualified.

They play away to Malta this Friday, at the Centenary Stadium at 6.30pm.

A home match at Windsor Park will follow them for a crunch tie on Tuesday. They will hope to be in the pot for the play-off round draw next Friday.