1 month ago
Image source, PressEye
Julie Nelson has won much Northern Ireland caps than immoderate different subordinate successful nan women's game
Andy Gray
BBC Sport Northern Ireland
Julie Nelson, Northern Ireland's women's grounds caps holder, says she would beryllium unfastened to a return to nan world set-up nether Tanya Oxtoby.
Nelson's 126th and past world came against Italy successful November 2022 earlier an injury-hit 2023 campaign.
Oxtoby, who was appointed head successful August, has antecedently said nan "door will proceed to beryllium open" erstwhile it comes to action for nan 38-year-old defender.
"All I tin do is attraction connected playing to nan champion of my expertise and what Tanya decides is up to her," said defender Nelson.
"I don't really deliberation that's wrong my control."
Crusaders want to triumph silverware
Speaking astatine nan motorboat of nan upcoming Women's Premiership season, Crusaders Strikers defender Nelson told BBC Sport NI she was "excited to beryllium back" aft her wounded troubles.
"2023 was a twelvemonth to hide for maine successful position of injuries. I've had a reliable pre-season, I've been moving difficult connected my ain arsenic good to get myself backmost into afloat fitness.
"If I didn't person that aforesaid buzz past I wouldn't put my assemblage done it. I'm excited to beryllium playing different play and hopefully staying injury-free."
While recovering from wounded Nelson, who made her Northern Ireland debut successful 2005, has taken connected coaching roles pinch NI's underage teams and she is presently successful nan process of finishing her A Licence.
"I've really enjoyed moving pinch nan younker world squads. It's awesome to spot nan breathtaking young talent coming through.
"Hopefully that is thing I will spell into erstwhile I bent my boots up."
Breaking into apical 2 'difficult'
Now backmost connected nan pitch, Nelson said she was "excited to get going" arsenic Crusaders look to break into nan apical 2 of nan Women's Premiership and declare an elusive trophy.
Jonny Tuffey's broadside are successful nan semi-finals of nan League Cup, which started earlier nan convention action gets underway connected 5 May.
Cliftonville and Glentoran person had a stranglehold connected nan apical of nan array successful caller seasons and, while nan Crues person defeated some successful that time, Nelson says nan situation is to do truthful connected a regular basis.
"It's our purpose to amended connected nan erstwhile year. We person vanished successful 3rd consistently complete nan past 3 aliases 4 seasons now.
"We are aiming to push into nan apical 2 but it's a difficult challenge.
"Our trouble has been our consistency. We defeated some guidance past year, truthful we cognize we are tin of beating those teams but it's nan inconsistent results erstwhile you suffer to teams you possibly shouldn't suffer to.
"That is what has wounded america complete nan past number of seasons.
"Breaking our duck successful position of silverware has to beryllium a realistic target."
