Alan Mahon echoed Carla Ward's sentiment regarding the possibility of Colin Healy getting back involved with the women’s national team.
The Ireland assistant head coach was speaking to the media on Tuesday afternoon and stated that he would have no problem welcoming the former Sunderland midfielder back into the international fold.
The FAI has been embroiled in a war of words since Healy’s exit with an apparent miscommunication regarding the Corkman’s future within the association following the end of Eileen Gleeson’s tenure as national team manager.
"Not a problem at all," said Mahon. "I've heard good things about Colin.
"I've never met him myself, I know of him, but there wouldn't be an issue on my side or Carla's side, to be honest."
The Healy conversation remains on the table, as there is a chance that fellow assistant Amber Whiteley could be departing, depending on the ongoing situation at Liverpool, where she has taken over as interim manager
As it transpires. Ireland must plan without Whiteley this week as she has not been able to travel due to passport issues. The FAI's head of Women and Girls' Football, Hannah Dingley, will fill in in her stead.
On the playing front, Ward has only one injury issue with Heather Payne considered doubtful for the opening game at least, after picking up an ankle injury for Everton last weekend.
Ireland are coming into this week’s double-header with Greece off the back of a demoralising 4-0 defeat to Slovenia in February, which completely took the gloss off their opening victory against Turkey.
And now back-to-back games against the Greeks, and while Mahon is expecting changes to the team’s approach to rectify that wrong in the last game, he is not expecting a complete change of tactics.
"We reviewed the game and went through the pros and cons," said Mahon. "And it was a really good thing to do, as we felt like we got something from it, and the players thought they had a voice and it was a nice platform to engage.
"There are a couple of things that we could probably have changed, done a bit different, but I still back what we decided at the time because we felt it was right. Football is football, it is what it is.
"We’re still in a building phase, going through that period of understanding and getting to know the players, and this camp is a little bit easier.
"There are a couple of things we’re trying to implement, but not making too many changes or try to reinvent the wheel."
The perennial question of Katie McCabe’s best position was once again raised with the former Ireland international midfielder, and Mahon admitted that it was still a work in progress to work out between the new manager and the player as to where she is best suited to the team.
"The last game didn’t work for us, I wouldn’t say it didn’t work for her. As a collective it just didn’t work," he emphasised.
"Katie is a very experienced player, a captain, a leader. She’s one of the best left-footers that I have come across in women’s football.
"I don’t want to pinpoint her and say she is this. She may have to play in another areas, she may play further up the pitch or may play at left back."
Watch Greece v Republic of Ireland in the Women's Nations League on Friday from 3pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra
