It has been a challenging campaign at Crystal Palace for Abbie Larkin and her great friend Izzy Atkinson.
The pair helped the Eagles to win the Championship last year, but life in the Women’s Super League is unforgiving.
Palace are rock bottom, having won just a single league game so far this season.
While Larkin has at least been getting decent minutes off the bench (she scored in a 2-0 FA Cup win against Newcastle two weeks ago), Atkinson has struggled to even make the squad since the turn of the year.
Carla Ward named both in her Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Turkey and Slovenia; it's potentially an opportunity to prove a point, make an impact and return to club duty with renewed confidence.
"It is tough in the WSL, everyone's fighting for their place," said ex-Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers winger Larkin, who shares digs in London with Atkinson.
"It's just the way the game goes and obviously we have each other anyway, so we can lean on each other for anything.
"It’s sad her not being there, but she comes in, she still joins in with the team and she just watches from a different perspective, but she’s still with us."
Last week Ward admitted Atkinson is perhaps not fulfilling her potential right now, saying: "When she comes in (to camp), we will sit down, probably give her some tough love and say 'we need you’. She has got huge potential. She is a great young player."
Larkin, almost four years younger, is in a slightly different situation career wise. She was a breakout star at the 2023 World Cup, producing a sparkling turn off the bench in the opening match against Australia at the Accor Stadium. The Ringsend flyer looked made for the big stage.
A short stint at Glasgow City was followed by a switch to Palace in January 2024. Still only 19, it feels there’s a lot more to come.
"I came from them playing in the Championship and not getting any minutes to actually coming on (off the bench) in the WSL, which is always what I wanted," she said.
"I’m definitely having confidence in playing now.
"I think it’s a big step. I feel like the talent in the WSL is a lot higher. It’s been hard for us at Palace, we have to put in the work and effort to try stay up. We’re doing okay now.
"We’re just trying to take every game as it comes. We have had some losses where we probably should have got a draw, but I mean that’s the game, the WSL is up and down, you never know what will happen."
Ward’s arrival might help Larkin in a couple of ways. Eileen Gleeson generally preferred a 3-5-2 formation that didn’t particularly suit Larkin, who does her best work in the opposition’s half. Against stronger teams, Ireland’s wide players would often find themselves tracking back deep, filling gaps and covering defenders.
If Ward opts to tweak the shape and liberate her wingers, Larkin is an obvious candidate to benefit.
"I had a chat with (Ward) and she seems really nice," she added.
"I think it’s going to be more attacking, which is definitely going to benefit me. I’m such an attacking player. We’re all really excited for her coming in and we’re excited for a fresh start. We can’t wait.
"I love taking on players down the wing and I think crossing the ball and assisting players is what I like to do, hopefully getting a few goals myself. I like having the touch line on my back.
"Not playing, sitting on the bench is not going to help your development. Confidence is key. If you’re playing a lot of minutes, you’re going to get confident on the ball. It just helps you believe in yourself more."
Watch Republic of Ireland v Turkey in the UEFA Women's Nations League on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live commentary with 2fm’s Game On.
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