Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward has heaped praise on "sensational" Katie McCabe as the captain prepares to win her 100th international cap in Belgium on Tuesday night.
McCabe made her debut against Hungary a decade ago as a baby-faced teenager. She has since developed into one of Ireland's finest ever footballers, an elite talent who offered yet more evidence of her capabilities in last Friday's Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against the Belgians in Dublin.
McCabe's two goals and one assist helped the hosts to an impressive 4-2 first-leg victory.
The Girls in Green are braced for a Red Flames backlash at Den Dreef Stadium in Leuven tomorrow, but Ward expects McCabe to set the tone as she joins Denise O'Sullivan, Ciara Grant, Emma Byrne, Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Diane Caldwell and Aine O'Gorman on the list of Irish centurions.
"Katie's a joy to work with because she's, she's very honest, she's very direct - I love those types of players," Ward said with her skipper seated beside her on Monday morning.
"I said it quite early on when I came in. What she did the other night, and I think I said this to you (Katie) in a text message, she led that group and the nation better than I've seen anybody lead a team before. I don't think you can give her any higher plaudits.
"I think what she's done for football in this country has been sensational. What she did on the night, and the way that she led that team was was something… you probably couldn't give her enough credit for but she will tell you, and I will tell you, she'll want to do it again and make sure we get that over the line on Tuesday."
McCabe said she won't think about her own personal landmark until the job is finished in Leuven: "I've spoken to family and friends and people that are close to me. But they know me long enough to not kind of step over that line of when I'm in camp and involved in in big games.
"They can be happy for me, of course, but, as Carla said, Friday was incredible, and the whole night - scoring goals and sharing that with our fans. But it means nothing if we don't get a result tomorrow night."
Ireland were excellent at Aviva Stadum against a team seven places higher than them in the world rankings, but they have work do here if they're to gain promotion back to League A.
Having stormed into a 4-1 lead, Marie Detruyer's late strike threw Belgium lifeline. They could be a different animal on their own patch, as evidenced by their thrilling 3-2 defeat of England back in April.
"I expect Belgium to come out with some fight," said Ward. "I expect them to be aggressive very, very early. They're at home, I'd imagine a packed out stadium. I expect a very different approach, probably similar to what they do do, but in a very different way, in terms of energy and intensity.
"This isn't about winning the tie over two legs. This is about going out tomorrow night and trying to win that game as an individual game. If we do that, then the job's done.
"What I would say is we're going to be covering (everything) between now and kick-off, there'll be no stone left unturned. There'll be conversations, more meetings this evening. I couldn't be any clearer: this isn't about we're going to the game 2-0 up. This is a game of football we want to win on the night."
Ward said she has no fresh injury concerns, however she does have one big decision to make. Anna Patten is back after serving a one-game suspension; usually a certain starter, it's hard to predict who - if anyone - will drop out for the Aston Villa centre-half given how well Caitlin Hayes, Jessie Stapleton and Chloe Mustaki performed as a unit.
Patten might find herself being used as a defensive midfielder, with Ward adding: "Whether Pattsy starts or comes on, she's massively valuable for the team, the country. It's a good problem to have, that's what I would say.
"I’ve played her (in midfield) before, haven't I, at club? Albeit on the odd occasion. But Pattsy is a top footballer, an intelligent footballer, she can play. You could put Pattsy anywhere. Towards the end of training yesterday, I saw her up top. I think she gets a bit carried away when she gets up there!
"But you could put her anywhere, you really could. And I think that's a credit to her."
Watch Belgium v Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Women's Nations League play-offs on Tuesday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live radio commentary on an extended Game On with 2fm.
