Women. International Magpies: Mannion and Murphy's Republic of Ireland seal promotion

Aoife Mannion Emily Murphy
Published
29 Oct 25
Team
Women

Our guide to this month's international action featuring members of the Magpies squad...

Aoife Mannion and Emily Murphy

The Magpies duo were both part of the Republic of Ireland for their UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-off with Belgium.

After finishing their UEFA Nations League group campaign level on points with Slovenia in League B, Carla Ward's side faced a two-legged clash with the Red Flames, with a place in League A on offer for the winners.

And both Newcastle players played the full 90 in a 4-2 first leg win for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday, with Murphy grabbing an assist to set her side up nicely for the second leg.

In Tuesday's return fixture at Den Dreef in Leuven, Ireland secured promotion with a dramatic 5-4 aggregate victory - and both Mannion and Murphy played their part once more, with the former playing the full 90 and the latter featuring for an hour on a memorable evening.

Jasmine McQuade and Charlotte Wardlaw

McQuade - who was capped by England at under-23 level last term - was called up by Scotland Under-23s alongside Magpies teammate Wardlaw for two games this month.

Wardlaw came off the bench for the final eight minutes in Michael McArdle's side's 3-0 defeat to Sweden at Stark's Park in Kirkcaldy on Thursday, and also featured in their next international challenge match - a 3-1 win over Italy at the Coverciano Training Centre in Florence on Monday, with the United defender providing an assist for her country.

Femke Liefting

Goalkeeper Liefting, who is on loan from Women's Super League giants Chelsea, played the full 90 minutes for the Netherlands Under-21s as they drew 2-2 with Italy in 's-Gravenzande.

The 20-year-old - who joined the Magpies in September - has represented her country all the way up to under-23 level, and received her first senior call-up in October 2024.

She then recorded a clean sheet in her country's goalless draw with Belgium in Tubize to round off an encouraging week of international duty for the stopper, who has started the season between the sticks at club level.

Oona Sevenius

Sevenius was named in the Finland senior squad ahead of their UEFA Women's Nations League play-off double header against Denmark, but didn't feature in their 6-1 first leg defeat at the Tammelan Stadion in Tampere on Friday.

She did make a substitute appearance in the final 30 minutes of their 2-0 second leg defeat, though, as Marko Saloranta's side suffered an 8-1 aggregate loss.

Sevenius, who joined Newcastle United Women from Swedish side FC Rosengard last summer, scored her first Magpies goal during a 2-2 away draw against Crystal Palace earlier this month before netting again in last weekend's 2-2 draw against Bristol City.

Freya Gregory

Forward Gregory was part of the Scotland senior side that faced Morocco and Switzerland in back-to-back friendly matches.

Gregory - who now has five caps to her name after receiving her first senior call-up in February, having previously represented England at youth level - was an unused substitute in her side's 2-1 win, sealed by a spectacular Caroline Weir strike, at Stade El Arbi Zaouli in Casablanca on Friday.

She then played the final five minutes of a 4-3 defeat to Switzerland at Dunfermline's East End Park on Tuesday.

Gregory has four goals for United to her name since her January switch from Southampton, but is yet to open her account for 2025/26.

Lois Joel

Joel - who became the first serving United player to feature in a major tournament at the European Championships in the summer - was again part of the Wales squad for their two upcoming friendlies, but didn't feature in either the 2-1 loss to Australia at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday or the 5-2 defeat to Poland at Newport County's Rodney Parade on Tuesday.

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