Northern Ireland 4-0 Malta: Has Halliday’s heroics helped start a new chapter for NI?

Developing a more attack-minded side as clearly been the early priority for McArdle after being appointed in March, with a focus on younger players clearly evident too.

Five of the starting XI were under 25 with Linfield’s Cora Chambers also coming off the bench to make her senior debut.

With captain Simone Magill away from the side after announcing her pregnancy in November, Northern Ireland have missed her experience, leadership and goals but after being handed the armband by McArdle, Rebecca McKenna, lead by example from defence and also helped push the side into the final third.

During his time within the Scottish FA, McArdle created a new Under-23s programme and a new Academy programme, showing he is no stranger to helping younger players develop.

Halliday added that the side need to use his trust to demonstrate their abilities as Northern Ireland aim to secure a World Cup play-off.

“It’s great that he’s trusting us to play and come on,” Halliday continued.

“He’s trusting us for a reason and we need to back ourselves on the pitch and do what we do week in week out with our clubs.

“We hadn’t scored yet on the campaign so to come out and score four is something we wanted to do and hopefully keep that up for the away game.”