Republic of Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson says she has factored into her plans the possibility that captain Katie McCabe will travel to Australia with Arsenal for an end-of-season friendly the week before two crucial Euro 2025 qualifiers.

The Gunners will take on an A League Allstars selection at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Friday 24 May. Ireland welcome Sweden to the Aviva Stadium just seven days later, before the return fixture on Swedish soil the following Tuesday.

McCabe could play for Arsenal and then fly back in time to prep for those huge international fixtures, but the jet lag and toll of the journey would massively disrupt her build-up.

England boss Sarina Wiegman has admitted she was "surprised" by Arsenal's decision to travel Down Under six days after the final match of the Women's Super League and said she's had conversations with the London club with regards to the involvement of the Lionesses players.

Gleeson has yet to open dialogue with Arsenal, but admitted Ireland have considered the possibility that McCabe will be making the trip.

"We haven't spoken to Arsenal yet," said Gleeson. "We have it obviously factored into our planning processes if she is in (the squad). But we have to wait and have that conversation with the club whether she will or won’t be involved in that.

"I mean, it’s far from ideal. Sarina Wiegman and other coaches have mentioned it in their squad announcements and public conversations.

"It’s directly post the end of the season, straight into a really long travel trip with a really quick turnaround directly before a qualifier. So yeah, it poses a real challenge for the player and for us as well. If it happens, we will have to manage it and best prepare for it if she is involved."

On Thursday, Gleeson named her squad for the upcoming qualifiers against France and England.

Veteran centre-half Niamh Fahey has been included despite her club Liverpool ruling her out for "a few weeks" with a calf injury.

"Niamh has been receiving some medical scans on the calf," Gleeson said. "We're in constant touch with the club. We have decided to bring her in and assess her in with us and see whether it is a longer-term view to the second game against England.

"At the moment we have her in the squad and we can update further then once we get to have that assessment. But yeah the conversations are ongoing with the club."

There's one new face in the Girls in Green panel: Aston Villa defender Anna Patten (above), who has represented England up to under-21 level. The 24-year-old qualifies through her grandfather (Donegal) and grandmother (Galway). She has yet to receive her international clearance, but it's expected that will be rubber-stamped in time for Patten to potentially feature against the French and/or England.

In February's window, Ireland earned a creditable 0-0 draw in Italy before slumping to a limp 2-0 defeat to Wales at Tallaght Stadium.

They stomped through their UEFA Nations League group before Christmas, but life in League A of the qualifiers is a different kettle of fish. Ireland will be big underdogs in each of the their six group games, and Gleeson conceded they must cut their cloth to fit.

"Of course we'll have to be more pragmatic," she said. "Everybody here has duly noted the level of the opposition, whether that was in the Nations League where (we faced) lower opposition, or now we’re in League A and (playing) third, fourth and fifth in the world.

"We talk about what characteristics we have and one of them is (being) hard to beat. We wanted to emphasise creativity and being super aggressive in the Nations League and we had an opportunity to do that, but here the starting point has to be being pragmatic. We need to get points in any way we can on the board in this group, so that’s what will guide the approach to the games."

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes).

Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Reading - on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses).

Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Bristol City), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Heather Payne (Everton), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace).

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Emily Murphy (Wake Forest University).

Euro 2025 qualifiers

Friday 5 April: France v Republic of Ireland, Stade Saint-Symphorien Metz, 8.10pm
Tuesday 9 April: Republic of Ireland v England, Aviva Stadium, 7.30pm
Friday 31 May: Republic of Ireland v Sweden, Aviva Stadium, 7.30pm
Tuesday 4 June: Sweden v Republic of Ireland, ko time and venue TBC
Friday 12 July: England v Republic of Ireland, Carrow Road, ko time TBC
Tuesday 16 July: Republic of Ireland v France, ko time and venue TBC

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