Amber Barrett isn’t taking her place at this summer’s World Cup finals for granted - even if it was her goal that secured Ireland’s first ever qualification.
The hero of Hampden Park says it’s all to play for as she prepares for a friendly double-header against the USA, kicking off on Saturday in Austin.
“I think every player has to have that in the back of their minds,” said the Donegal-born striker, who netted the all-important goal away to Scotland in last October’s play-off.
“They know there’s 23 positions up for grabs and I don’t think anyone can say they’re definitely going.
“I think every time there’s a camp, everybody wants the opportunity to play and show their quality.
“Of course, I’m no different to that and hopefully in the next two games I get that opportunity.
“That also depends on how the training week goes. Vera always puts a team out that can do the job and hopefully I can be one of those people.”
Ireland boss Vera Pauw has brought 27 players to the USA, while US-born Sinead Farrelly and four-times capped Éabha O'Mahony, who is in college in Texas, will train with the team on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Farrelly was the whistleblower who helped expose abuse within the US soccer system.
Barrett continued: “When you look at it, the majority of times we bring in a squad of 27 for camps and the fact the World Cup squad is four less at 23 puts that wee bit of extra pressure on players.
“After we qualified, it was like, ‘ah, we’ve nine months to prepare’. But now it's suddenly only three months away and the timeline isn’t that long.
“There’s that bit of pressure but it’s a good pressure to have.”
Barrett’s own push for a place in Pauw’s summer plans looked to have stalled when she picked up a serious shoulder injury late last year.
She even found herself playing at right-back for a number of matches at club level.
The 27-year-old admitted: “I am still finding my feet, trying to get into the starting team (at Bundesliga side Turbine Potsdam).
“Week by week I feel a bit stronger. Bringing confidence into the next camp is important.”
Meanwhile, the FAI last night confirmed that the women’s national team would continue to wear white shorts, despite several other sides in various sports switching to more period-friendly colours.
England will wear blue shorts this summer.
However, in a statement, the FAI said that discussions had taken place with the players and that the team would wear white shorts with a green jersey and socks.
“The FAI consulted with the senior leadership group within the squad and with management on the possibility of switching the colour of the shorts but with the supply of protective underwear the players felt that staying with white shorts was the preferred option,” it read.
