LAST UPDATE | 3 Oct 2022
THE REPUBLIC OF Ireland women’s national team have been hit with another significant injury blow, with Jess Ziu the latest to be ruled out of next week’s World Cup play-off.
The West Ham star was stretchered off on club duty yesterday, and the FAI confirmed this morning that a knee injury will see her join a lengthy injury list and miss next Tuesday’s historic showdown away to Scotland or Austria.
Shelbourne’s Keeva Keenan has been added to the squad, the three-cap defender brought in as defensive cover.
Ziu, 20, was forced off in the second half of her side’s dramatic Continental Cup clash against London City Lionesses, which they eventually won 10-9 on penalties after a 94th-minute equaliser in a chaotic come-from-behind victory.
“The Hammers were hit with injuries to Lucy Parker and Jess Ziu during the game, with Ziu’s looking particularly serious as she was stretchered off in the second half,” the match report reads.
“We don’t know the extent of Jess’ injury at this stage,” West Ham manager Paul Konchesky said afterwards. “We’re hoping that it’s not as bad as it first seemed, but we obviously need to go away and diagnose exactly what the issue is.”
Lily Agg and Hayley Nolan both scored penalties for London City yesterday, but the former missed her second which ultimately settled the tie. Izzy Atkinson also featured for West Ham, withdrawn in the 58th minute alongside the injured Ziu.
It comes as another major headache for Vera Pauw, who is already without Megan Connolly (ribs), Ruesha Littlejohn (foot), Leanne Kiernan (ankle) and Ellen Molloy (knee), and long-term absentees Savannah McCarthy and Aoife Colvill (both ACL), for next week’s showdown. That’s four of 12 Women’s Super League players unavailable.
Ziu is one of those, the lively winger a big loss. A versatile utility player, she has established herself as a regular starter throughout this campaign. The Dubliner, who made the move to the WSL from Shelbourne this summer, has 12 senior international caps to her name.
Pauw’s squad are due to report into camp tomorrow, as their bid to qualify for a first-ever major tournament hits new heights.
There are question marks over the fitness of Amber Barrett and Megan Campbell; Barrett substituted after just 22 minutes in Turbine Potsdam’s Bundesliga defeat to her former club Koln on Saturday, and Campbell’s half-time removal for Liverpool yesterday hopefully nothing more than precautionary. Both are included in the latest squad update, though:
Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Keeva Keenan (Shelbourne), Claire O’Riordan (Celtic), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Niamh Farrelly (Parma), Roma McLaughlin (Central Connecticut University), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (West Ham United)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Amber Barrett (FFC Turbine Potsdam), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge).
