Carla Ward insists Louise Quinn ‘has to earn the right' to final Ireland game and is not ‘nailed on' for Nations League
IRELAND manager Carla Ward insisted Louise Quinn will have to earn a farewell appearance.
boots
this
summer
.
2
Carla Ward has explained Louise Quinn's addition to the Ireland squad
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
2
Quinn has been called up despite announcing her retirement
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Ward - who had flagged in advance that the 121-times capped 34-year-old was in contention - revealed she could also
travel
to the
USA
for the friendly doubleheader at the end of June.
The
Ireland
boss is keen for Quinn to pass on her experience to a squad she feels lacks leaders as Niamh Fahey and Diane Caldwell have also exited the international scene.
But while Quinn is included in a 24-person squad, only 23 can be kitted out for games, Ward said that final appearance in green will need to be earned.
Ward said: 'She's desperate to represent her country one more time. I can't tell her, I've been honest. It's not necessarily nailed on.
Read More on Ireland WNT
'She's got to earn the right to be selected for these games, but she's in with a chance, like everybody else.
'She's made it very, very clear that she's fit, she's firing. I've had her
Birmingham
manager on to me telling me the same thing.
'I think if you saw her
Instagram
post after the last Blues game, she made it clear it was her last game in a blue shirt.'
But Ward insisted that Quinn's leadership will be key, and also hinted that there may be a role for her on his coaching staff in
future
.
Most read in Football
She continued: 'What Lou can help us with is not just about on the pitch, it's off the pitch.
'I think Lou has not been around in the last two camps as have the other leaders (Fahey and Caldwell) and it's shown.
Katie McCabe makes heartwarming gesture to next generation of stars before joining Ireland camp for Greece games
'But that's okay because now we're in a period where we're trying to develop other leaders,
'Lou's job in this
next
camp is far bigger than being just a footballer.
'Did I try and twist Lou's ear and try and get a sense of what's next? Yeah, of course I did. Did she give me an answer? No.
'It's something that I'd like to tap into and see if we could possibly utilise in any way.
'You can't put a price on the importance of ex-players, ex-leaders helping shape the future game, whether that's with us, whether that's around the
'People with that experience, you don't want them to leave the game.
'You can go on all these courses and you can get certificates and you can get all of that. But human experience, lived experience - you can't beat it.'
NEW RECRUIT
Meanwhile, Megan Connolly also returns to the squad after injury though Heather Payne, Leanne Kiernan, Tara O'Hanlon,
But Payne's absence has opened the door for new recruit Erin Healy to be called up for the first-time.
The US-born
striker
qualifies for Ireland through his Monaghan-born grandparent and currently plays in
Australia
for Adelaide United.
But Ward revealed she is set to move to
Europe
for next season, and is relishing a chance to take a look at her.
The Ireland boss added: 'She is someone we watched quite a lot. If you have a look at her, she can score goals and link the play.
'Importantly, she has got a lot of pace and somebody we have been excited about.
'She's got interest from three WSL clubs as well as NWSL clubs and a few others around Europe.'
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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