507 days since making her last appearance for Northern Ireland, Jackie Burns returned to the pitch under Tanya Oxtoby’s management in Friday’s meeting with Malta at Windsor Park.

The Goalkeeper suffered a long-term Achilles injury in February of 2023, leading to her prolonged absence from football. Prior to her call up this international window, Burns made her first appearance for her domestic side, Reading, returning between the sticks against Blackburn Rovers last weekend.

Reflecting on how it feels to return, Burns commented “[It feels] Unbelievable. I think it took a while to sink in that it actually was happening but to actually make the return, especially at home, is next level and to be in front of the home fans it’s unbelievable.”

A goalless draw at Windsor Park saw Northern Ireland share the points with Malta in the opening fixture of their EURO qualifying campaign. Despite a disappointing opening to their road to Switzerland, Burns reflects on the goalkeeping positives, as she maintained a clean sheet on the occasion.

“I think obviously with every goalkeeper, you want a clean sheet. So to get it, especially on a night like this, it’s important. I think there’s still positives to take away from the game, we were on top for most of it, it was just unfortunate we couldn’t get any balls in the net.

But I think we can learn a lot from it and be able to go into Bosnia more prepared and hopefully get another result from there.”

Since her last appearance for Northern Ireland in 2022, there has been a shift in management with Tanya Oxtoby appointed the head coach role of Northern Ireland in September of 2023.

Burns reflects on the frustration of being absent whilst a new manager settles into the role, commenting, “I think it’s the same with everyone who goes through an injury like, you want to be there, you want to be able to impact the squad in any way.

But obviously I’m only new in and I’m still learning from everyone else, it’s completely new to me what Tanya wants. I think it’s important to just keep trusting the process of what she wants.”

Tanya Oxtoby had Burns in her future plans however, keeping communication with Northern Ireland’s Number One throughout the early stages of her management.

“Obviously whenever you get a new manager you don’t know how anything is going to go. I think we’ve been able to keep in good communication and it’s just made it easier to come into camp.

Like you’re not coming in not knowing anything and knowing that she still has that interest in you. I think that’s just made it a lot easier coming in and to be able to settle a bit knowing that she knows what i’m capable of. So I think that’s just made it easy.”

Having to take on the role as an outsider from the squad, Jackie Burns reflects on witnessing the progress which Oxtoby has inspired within the squad.

“I think we can see it a lot. Like, I think, a lot more players are comfortable on the ball and a lot more confident going forward. Whereas, in the past maybe it was a bit more pessimistic with our approach, and I think as well we focus a lot more on ourselves rather than what the opposition might do.

Yes, you’ll do a bit of work on them but I think we’re just really focusing down on what we have as a squad and how we can exploit ourselves in terms of getting the results. So hopefully we’ll be able to keep building on the squad and be able to go into the campaign and keep working.”

Only returning to the Reading starting line up last weekend, Jackie Burns made her intentions clear in making a return to the Northern Ireland side.

“I wanted to be back as soon as possible really. I think it was important that with the injury like, you kind of want to give yourself targets to get back but I just knew whenever the time was ready, it would be the right time. I’m thankful that Tanya picked this moment, this camp to be able to make that return.”

Her return to the pitch was aided by her inclusion in the previous training camp, easing her into the current process which Northern Ireland has adopted.

She reflects on this opportunity, saying “I think that was important. It just made it easier coming into this camp because then I knew what to expect from her.

So I came in, had the training, knew what the routine was like, what meetings would be like. So I think having that little stepping stone has made it more relaxing mentally and physically to be able to make a smoother transition into the squad.”