Jess Ziu knew as soon as Jamie Finn hit the turf in Republic of Ireland training last week that the injury was serious.
In October 2022, Ziu suffered an ACL injury in action for West Ham against London City Lionesses. She recognised the signs, and the signs weren't good. Sure enough, it was soon confirmed that Finn had torn her anterior cruciate ligament, joining a lengthy list of Ireland players who have endured the same fate.
"I think to be honest, as soon as she went down, you knew straight away," said Ziu, who made her first start for Ireland in 17 months against Italy on Friday evening.
"You can tell the way a player goes down, and I was gutted for her. But Jamie is probably one of the most resilient players I've worked with, she’s such a hard worker. I don’t think she’ll struggle one bit with her rehab, I think she’ll fly through it and she’ll be back as soon as possible."
Former Shels talent Ziu had a strong game on her international return in Florence. Versatile and intelligent, she looks tailor-made for Eileen Gleeson's more expansive approach, and can expect plenty of more opportunities in the next six months as the Girls in Green chase qualification for Euro 2025.
"It's been a long 17 months but it's good to be back with all the girls."
"I'm not going to lie, it was quite overwhelming," said the 21-year-old when reflecting on her return to the fold.
"I'd a few nerves leading up to it because there's a lot of new staff, and a lot of new faces in the team. But luckily I had a few girls I’m quite close with: Izzy [Atkinson], Larko [Abbie Larkin], they all kind of helped me and the staff were so nice. Eilo was great with me.
"It’s good being back in, it also doesn’t feel like I’ve been out for 17 months, and the same with West Ham too. Hopefully I look like it too, that I’ve not been out for 17 months. Yeah, it feels great."
She certainly didn't look like a player trying to find her bearings after a long absence from the international stage. Ziu adapted to her task with impressive ease.
"We actually play the same formation with West Ham and I play on the left or right side, so I was quite familiar with that role," she added.
"I had a player behind me in Jessie [Stapleton] too so it made it easier, they were communicating with me.
"It's been a long 17 months but it’s good to be back with all the girls."
Ireland welcome Wales to Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday for another friendly, with Ziu hoping for more minutes to show what she can do. Not that Gleeson will need much convincing. Ziu has exactly the sort of profile the Irish management are looking for: young, adaptable and loaded with potential.
Having missed out on last summer's World Cup, motivation is not an issue either.
"I think [missing the tournament] made me more grateful," added Ziu.
"Every time I'm stepping on to the pitch I’m stepping out with a smile on my face. I’m going to enjoy the little moments because we don’t know - I don’t want to get a bit deep here - but we don’t know if that is our last game for a couple of months. I’m going to take everything in my stride, enjoy it all. I’m glad to be back."
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