Jess Ziu and Jamie Finn are back in the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Belgium, but boss Carla Ward will be without goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
After finishing their UEFA Nations League group campaign level on points with Slovenia in League B, missing out on automatic promotion on goal difference, Ireland now go into this showdown aiming to return to League A, which would improve their seeding for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers.
Everton stopper Brosnan has been sidelined with a knee injury, while Megan Connolly and Leanne Kiernan are also absent as they continue to recover from foot injuries.
There are however some welcome returnees.
Finn suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during training in Florence ahead of a friendly against Italy back in February 2024. She has not featured for the Girls in Green since.
Ziu played in the 3-1 win against France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in July 2024 but sustained an ACL injury shortly aftewrads - the second of her career. Finn is at Sunderland now with Ziu getting minutes on loan at Bristol City from West Ham. Both will hope to play a part in the upcoming two-legged tie against the world No 20-ranked Belgians.
There had been fears North Carolina Courage star Denise O'Sullivan would miss out due to her recent struggles with a knee problem, however the Cork woman has been included.
Leicester City stopper Katie Keane earns a second senior call-up, and though there's no LOI represention in the squad, Shamrock Rovers defender Maria Reynolds and Athlone Town striker Kelly Brady have both been invited to train.
Centre-half Anna Patten is suspended for the first leg which takes place at Aviva Stadium on Friday 24 October. Ireland then head to the King Power at Den Dreef Stadion in Leuven the following Tuesday.
Boss Carla Ward missed Wednesday's press conference due to what the FAI described as "a family emergency", with assistant Alan Mahon fulfilling media duties.
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (Sunderland), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Katie Keane (Leicester City)
Defenders: Heather Payne (Leicester City), Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Jessie Stapleton (Nottingham Forest – on loan), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest), Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Izzy Atkinson (Sunderland)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ruesha Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), Jamie Finn (Sunderland), Tyler Toland (Durham), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Jess Ziu (Bristol City – on loan from West Ham), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Saoirse Noonan (Celtic)
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