Nations League: Megan Campbell and Sinead Farrelly return to Ireland squad

The availability or otherwise of Sinead Farrelly for the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming Nations League double-header against Albania was always going to be the chief point of interest when interim manager Eileen Gleeson named her squad on Tuesday morning. Well, she’s in, the NJ/NY Gotham midfielder set to resume her international career after missing last month’s games against Northern Ireland and Hungary.

Medical advice regarding the effect of long-haul flights on the back spasms that she was suffering led Farrelly to withdraw from that squad. That raised some doubts about her international future, whether travel of that distance would continue to be an issue for the player who turns 34 next month and who still deals with problems that resulted from a serious car crash eight years ago.

But Gleeson said Farrelly has fully recovered from those back spasms and is set to add to her five Irish caps. “And we’re delighted to bring her back in,” she said. Mind you, she’s set for another gruelling travel schedule. On Sunday, she and Denise O’Sullivan will be on opposite sides in their NWSL play-off quarter-final in North Carolina before they make their way to Dublin and then Shkodër in northern Albania for the games on October 27th and 31st. And then they’ll head all the way back to the States. Their air miles will be through the roof.

Gleeson was no less pleased to welcome Megan Campbell back to the fold, the defender, who has been beset by injuries through the bulk of her career, winning the last of her 47 caps in the friendly against China back in February.

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She will, though, have to be carefully managed, said Gleeson, “she’s still in a return-to-play process”. Campbell’s sole appearance this season came 10 days ago and was a brief one, the 30-year-old coming on in the 88th minute to make her debut for Everton, who she joined last month after leaving Liverpool.

“But it’s beneficial to have her with us, she brings something to the camp with her experience. We’re trying to play out from the back a bit more now, and Megan is so comfortable on the ball. She brings a nice balance down our left, so it’s an outlet for us to have her there.” Campbell’s return, either at left-back or wing back, brings the added bonus – apart from those throw-ins – of being able to play Katie McCabe higher up the pitch.

A lengthy injury list has deprived Gleeson of the services of Niamh Fahey, Aoife Mannion, Ruesha Littlejohn, Claire Walsh, Tara O’Hanlon, Roma McLaughlin, Jess Ziu and Leanne Kiernan, while illness has ruled out Savannah McCarthy.

But a lack of game-time with their clubs accounts for Megan Walsh, Marissa Sheva and Éabha O’Mahony’s omissions, Sophie Whitehouse returning to take Walsh’s place as a back-up to first choice goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.

Having featured in all three of Ireland’s World Cup games, Sheva was an unused sub against Northern Ireland last month and didn’t even make the match day squad for the game in Budapest. The writing was, then, on the wall, her situation not helped by how little she has played for Washington Spirit in the NWSL after returning from the World Cup.

Her future at the club, who sacked their manager Mark Parsons this week after they failed to make the NWSL play-offs, is also in doubt, Sheva, now a free agent, struggling to get any minutes on the pitch despite her side failing to score in four of their final five games.

“And that’s what it is, just a footballing decision,” said Gleeson. “Marissa is not getting game time, so it’s difficult to assess her form. It’s hard for her, there’s a lot of competition for her position in this squad, but I have spoken with her and she’s on the standby list – and she’s ready to go if needed.”

On the incoming side is Erin McLaughlin who returns to the squad having been given her senior debut by Vera Pauw against Zambia back in June, the 20-year-old from Donegal fresh from winning the league with Peamount United at the weekend.

One thing that the World Cup taught us during the summer is that rankings don’t always count for much, so despite Albania being a whole 48 places below Ireland in the Fifa list, Gleeson warned against taking anything for granted going into these games. “Complacency is our enemy,” she said, “we can’t underestimate Albania or just expect to get six points. We have to make it happen.”

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes).

Defenders: Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Claire O’Riordan (Standard Liege), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Everton).

Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Megan Connolly (Bristol City), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Sinead Farrelly (NJ/NY Gotham), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Heather Payne (Everton), Izzy Atkinson (West Ham United).

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Abbie Larkin (Glasgow City), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC), Emily Whelan (Glasgow City), Erin McLaughlin (Peamount United).