Megan Connolly goes straight back into the Republic of Ireland starting XI for their opening World Cup qualifier against world No 7-ranked France at Tallaght Stadium tonight, with Courtney Brosnan and Anna Patten also handed starts.
Versatile Lazio midfielder Connolly missed October's two-legged Nations League promotion/relegation play-off defeat of Belgium, as well as the behind-closed doors friendly with Hungary a month later. She slots into the engine room alongside Denise O'Sullivan and Marissa Sheva, with Ruesha Littlejohn dropping out.
Brosnan returns between the posts having also missed the Belgium and Hungary matches, while Patten - who came on at half-time during the second leg in Leuven - gets the nod from the start here, nudging Jessie Stapleton out of central defence. Patten joins Caitlin Hayes and Chloe Mustaki at the back, with Aoife Mannion and Katie McCabe the two wing-backs.
Emily Murphy again plays off striker Kyra Carusa.
The Girls in Green last met France in July 2024, when they defeated a much-changed Les Bleus outfit that had one eye on the Paris Games.
Tonight will be a different kettle of fish. The visitors do have injuries: captain Griedge Mbock Bathy, Delphine Cascarino, Selma Bacha and Naomie Feller are all absent. However their starting XI is still ominously strong, backboned by the likes of Kadidiatou Diani, Sandy Baltimore and Sakina Karchaoui.
They are without their first-choice keeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Constance Picaud coming in to deputise.
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki, Katie McCabe (capt); Megan Connolly, Denise O'Sullivan, Marissa Sheva; Emily Murphy; Kyra Carusa
France: Constance Picaud; Maelle Lakrar, Thiniba Samoura, Elisa De Almeida, Perle Morroni; Grace Geyoro (capt), Oriane Jean-Francois, Sakina Karchaoui; Sandy Baltimore, Kadidiatou Diani, Clara Mateo,
Referee: Tess Olofsson (Swe)
Watch Republic of Ireland v France tonight from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on an extended Inside Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
