Ashley Hutton makes her long awaited Northern Ireland comeback

© CSX Sports - Ashley Hutton leaves the field with a knee injury

Linfield Ladies and Northern Ireland defender Ashley Hutton is set to make her long awaited return to the Northern Ireland Women's National Team later this week after being called up to the squad to face Belgium Women in a friendly ahead of Northern Ireland's Euro's campaign due to kick off on July 7th in Southampton.

Prior to injury Hutton was an ever present in the starting line-up for Kenny Shiel's side forming an integral partnership with Julie Nelson which was the rock that the side was build upon during the Euro's qualifiers

In May 2021 Ashley was forced off in a league tie versus Crusaders Strikers in a game a Seaview with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture which later required two surgeries

This season Ashley has already made six appearances for the Blues in the Danske Bank Women's Premiership who currently sit 4th in the table ten points behind leaders Cliftonville Ladies.

However the Euros has always been Ashley's "Ultimate goal" speaking to BBC Sport NI back in April quoted "It's been a tiring 10-11 months but I'm just glad to be back out there. With this injury it's just about building confidence, not only physically but mentally. You have to overcome the barriers. You have that fear, that you don't want to do it again."

The inclusion in the current squad has been warranted based on her performances so far this season and the great rapport she holds with both Julie Nelson and Sarah McFadden in the backline and for the travelling GAWA it has been a welcome inclusion at a crucial period of time before Kenny Shiels names his final squad.

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