International round up: Wilms, Patten, Hijikata and Vangsgaard make impact

Aston Villa Women players jetted around the globe for international duty over the past two weeks, with Lynn Wilms, Anna Patten, Maya Hijikata and Amalie Vangsgaard registering goal contributions for their countries.

Across Europe teams were competing to earn a spot at next summer's Women's World Cup in Brazil, going head to head in the first of two play-off rounds.

Wilms registered two assists for the Netherlands who claimed a huge 11-0 aggregate win over Hungary.  Wilms and Chasity Grant's Oranje Leeuwinnen will go head to head with Slovenia in round two.

Meanwhile Villa team skipper Anna Patten provided a superb assist in the second leg of the Republic of Ireland's tie with Kazakhstan. The Girls in Green won 12-0 on aggregate, and will meet Poland in the next round.

Elsewhere, Mathilde Harviken and Justine Kielland's Norway beat Romania 8-0 on aggregate to set up a second round match up with Soffia Kelly's Wales. The Dragons themselves cruised past Albania 4-0 on aggregate.

Noelle Maritz featured in both of Switzerland's games against Israel, as that tie ended 9-3. La Nati will face Austria in the next round.

Miri Taylor and Mia McAulay's Scotland claimed a 5-2 aggregate victory over Czechia to book a second round clash with Sweden.

England booked their spot against Ukraine in the next round by defeating Greece 8-1 on aggregate. Villa's Lucia Kendall withdrew from the squad with a minor groin injury, and is being reviewed back at Bodymoor Heath.

While their club team-mates competed in World Cup qualifying Maya Hijikata and Akane Okuma were in friendly action. The duo featured in Japan's match against Haiti, with Hijikata scoring as a second half substitute to round off a comfortable 5-1 win.

Amalie Vangsgaard started both of Denmark's friendlies against Canada, assisting Pernille Harder for the opening goal in a 1-1 draw in Montreal, before playing 80 minutes of the side's 4-3 victory in Toronto.

Meanwhile academy graduate Katie Scott continued her impressive rise on her maiden call up to U19 level. She played the duration of the Young Lionesses' European qualifiers against Denmark, Switzerland and Bosnia.

Georgia Mullett and Lily Murphy also represented the Young Lionesses, as England U23s lost their European title defence opener 2-0 against Norway.