Katie McCabe to join Ireland squad late for Turkey clash after European final
Katie McCabe will have a special supporters' group cheering her on in Lisbon as she fights to become the fourth Irish woman to win the UEFA Champions League with Arsenal.
McCabe will be watched in person by a large number of her Ireland team-mates before they travel to Turkey for the first game in a crucial Nations League double-header.
The Gunners face Barcelona on Saturday and Ireland's captain will be given a few days off before joining the squad in Istanbul for the international on Friday week.
Carla Ward's charges also face Slovenia at Páirc Uí Chaoimh four days later as Ireland chase Nations League promotion. "There's a flight out of Lisbon to Turkey, they'll arrive at the same time as everybody else does on Sunday," said Ward. "There's a large group of players going to watch.
"I think Katie will be returning maybe two or three days late. Let's hope that they do the job and she comes in with a nice medal which will hopefully put her in a good position to then help us with these two games.
"We know that she's coming late, win, lose or draw, because Arsenal have some things prepared for them. No matter what, it's an unbelievable achievement to get to where they've got to. We wish her well."
Heather Payne and Leanne Kiernan have been ruled out of the double-header, while Lily Agg, Jess Ziu, Jamie Finn and Tara O'Hanlon are long-term absentees. Megan Connolly returns after injury.
Ward sees newcomer Erin Healy, 24, as the perfect replacement for Liverpool's Kiernan. Healy scored eight goals for Adelaide in her debut A-League season and the San Diego native qualifies for Ireland through her Monaghan-born grandfather.'She has been tracked for some time by the FAI and somebody who has had an exciting season,' said Ward of a striker who is being watched by several English clubs. She is soon to be European based this summer and that will help, for sure."The Ireland boss added that there may be more Irish qualified players based in the US to come into future squads, but that process remains ongoing. "There is a bit of work still to be done," she said.Long-time servant Louise Quinn is retiring at the end of the season and has been selected in a squad of 24. Ward wants Quinn, who has 121 Ireland caps, to help develop leaders in a squad that has lost plenty of experience of late and, potentially, there could be a coaching role down the line.For now, however, the 34-year-old must earn the right for a playing farewell in green. 'She's made it very, very clear that she's fit, she's firing," Ward said. "I've had her Birmingham manager on to me, telling me the same thing."Ireland squad: Brosnan (Everton), Moloney (Unattached), Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Stapleton (West Ham United), Mannion (Manchester United), Patten (Aston Villa), Hayes (Brighton), Quinn (Unattached), Mustaki (Bristol City), Campbell (Unattached), McCabe (Arsenal), O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Littlejohn (Shamrock Rovers), Connolly (Lazio), Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Sheva (Sunderland), Clancy (Shelbourne), Carusa (San Diego Wave), Barrett (Standard Liege), Larkin (Crystal Palace), Quinn (Birmingham City), Murphy (Newcastle United), Noonan (Celtic), Healy (Adelaide United).
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