Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw has included Katie McCabe in a formidable 31-player World Cup training camp squad for the upcoming friendly against Zambia at Tallaght Stadium on 22 June, despite some uncertainty around her availability for the friendly.
Pauw's plans have been complicated by a European Clubs' Association [ECA] directive that players can only be released for international duty from 23 June, with some allowances. The clubs body have argued that players require post-season rest before linking up wth their countries to prepare for the tournament.
Initially, they had set a mandatory release date of 10 July - just ten days before Ireland play Australia in their World Cup group opener. A compromise was reached between the ECA and FIFA, with an earlier, non-mandatory release timeframe of between 23 and 29 June set, with the exact day of release at the discretion of the clubs.
Pauw left the door open for McCabe - who had a heavy load of games this year due to Arsenal's run to the Champions League semi-finals - to feature against the Zambians. She has been permitted to come into camp on either 19 or 23 June as FIFA continued to wrangle with the ECA, but either way, her involvement will depend on her physical conditioning, which will be closely monitored.
Developments in England on Friday afternoon offered more clarity as the FA received clearance from the Women's Super League to bring players into camp on 19 June. That should allow Arsenal star McCabe to link up earlier and potentially feature against the Zambians, but that has yet to be confirmed.
Manchester United defender Aoife Mannion is being monitored after suffering a knee injury in training recently.
The three US-based players - O'Sullivan, Sinead Farrelly and Marissa Sheva - will arrive after the Zambia game with their domestic campaign in full swing.
The other 27 players will link up in Dublin this Monday to continue preparations. The training sessions will be split between UCD and the FAI National Training Centre in Abbottstown over a four-week block.
Liverpool striker Leanne Kiernan is back in the fold for the first time since last September's win in Slovakia. She suffered a bad ankle injury in action for Liverpool soon after that game and only just returned at the tail end of the campaign.
The Cavan woman will be desperate for a chance to prove her worth and potentially squeeze into the 23-player World Cup panel, which will be announced on 29 June.
Four players from the League of Ireland Women's Premier Division are part of the group, including uncapped Erin McLaughlin from Peamount United.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND TRAINING CAMP SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Áine O'Gorman (Shamrock Rovers), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Claire O'Riordan (Celtic), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Tara O'Hanlon (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Sinead Farrelly (NY/NJ Gotham), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Erin McLaughlin (Peamount United)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers), Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Amber Barrett (Potsdam Turbine), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC)
