Kirsty McGuinness is returning from injury and Shiels says it will be a "toss of a coin" if the Cliftonville winger is available.

Northern Ireland cannot qualify for the World Cup next summer.

Their final two qualifiers are the country's first matches since Euro 2022, which was NI's maiden major tournament.

Wade earned a move to Reading following her performances in Southampton and Shiels admits the former Glentoran winger will be "a big loss for us".

"Lauren helps us with her pace and her ability to finish," said Shiels.

"She is a big player for us. Kirsty is the opposite, she is just coming back from injury and it will be a toss of a coin as to whether she will be able to play or not.

"Equally, we don't want to rush her as there are two games in the programme."

Northern Ireland are without some experienced players for their final two qualifiers. Simone Magill injured her ACL at the Euros, leading goalscorer Rachel Furness has withdrawn for personal reasons and long-serving defender Ash Hutton announced her retirement following the conclusion of the tournament.

With both games away from home and away from the hype and atmosphere created by the 'Green and White Army' at the Euros, Shiels says his side must protect against any potential hangover from their maiden major tournament as Northern Ireland look to boost their co-efficient Uefa ranking.

"It will have an effect, potentially a negative effect," Shiels added.

"All the more reason we have to try and override that and make sure we play to the best of our ability and with a good intensity to our game.

"They will be out to scalp us and we have to make sure we are ready for all of that. We have good players, despite what I've said about the ones who are missing."

Transition after Euros 'wasn't easy'

The full-time training programme Northern Ireland entered in preparation for Euro 2022 ended after the tournament, meaning domestic-based players have gone back to juggling football with their careers or studies.

Captain Marissa Callaghan, who works for the Irish FA, admits "it wasn't easy" to revert to part-time football following the summer.

"It has been a big shift. From January our whole focus was on the Euros and putting in big performances to make sure we were right for that," said the midfielder.

"Now, our focus has changed and club football is really important to us at the minute because we are in the middle of our league and these two games have come up at a good time.

"We want to win these two games. We must win and I think we are good enough to do that."

Marissa Callaghan recovered from a toe injury to lead Northern Ireland at Euro 2022

Northern Ireland beat Luxembourg and Latvia 4-0 at home in their opening qualifiers last September and Callaghan's team will look to get back to winning ways after facing several higher-ranked sides in 2022.

"I wouldn't say it has been a tough year but it has been a year that has really helped us develop. It is definitely a shift in terms of these two games coming up," added the 36-year-old.

"I'm not disrespecting Luxembourg and Latvia but it is going to be a different game. We would hope to have a lot more possession and chances within the game.

"We have played both teams before, we know what they are about and we have had a real good camp about what our responsibilities are.

"We will go out with a lot of confidence. Looking at the players who are missing, there are a lot of goals in those players so it is up to us to step up, win the game and score some goals."