Ward tips Ireland newcomer Healy for Women's Super League move
Carla Ward expects Ireland's latest recruit Erin Healy to be playing in England next season.
San Diego-born, the 24-year-old striker is based in Australia with A-League outfit Adelaide United and has declared through her grandfather from Monaghan.
Victories in their final pair of Uefa Nations League fixtures against Turkey away on Friday week and Slovenia in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday, June 3 are essential for Ireland to have a chance of promotion to the top 16 nations in next year's World Cup qualifiers.
Unless Slovenia – who hammered Ireland 4-0 in Ward's second match at the helm – drop points in Greece or lose by five goals in Cork, Ireland will need to win an October playoff against opponents from the A ranks to achieve that status for the qualification series leading to Brazil in 2027.
Firepower is imperative and together with Celtic's Cork native Saoirse Noonan, the Ireland boss is relying on the newcomer to provide the necessary goals.
'Erin has attracted attention from a number of Women's Super League clubs and will hopefully end up there this summer,' said Ward, who managed Birmingham City and Aston Villa in the English top-flight.
'Being European-based this summer will help for sure.
'She is someone we watched quite a lot. If you have a look at her, she can score goals and link the play. Importantly, she has got a lot of pace and somebody we have been excited about.'
Erin Healy of Adelaide United scores the equaliser against Melbourne Victory at Coopers Stadium this month. Pic:Louise Quinn recently announced her retirement but the centurion will round off her career on the international stage over the summer.
Ireland have two friendlies away to Fifa's top seeds, USA, in June and July.
'We asked to bring in a 24th player and there's a number of reasons why it was Louise,' explained Ward who succeeded Eileen Gleeson at the start of this year.
'Louise has made it very, very clear that she's fit, she's firing. I've had her Birmingham manager on to me telling me the same thing.
'She'll turn up, she'll train, there's competition for everybody. She's desperate to represent her country one more time.
'I can't tell her, I've been honest. It's not necessarily nailed on. She's got to earn the right to be selected for these games, but she's in with a chance, like everybody else.
'Lou can help us with is not just about on the pitch, it's off the pitch. We've been doing a lot of work around how do we develop these next young leaders, how do we bring that out of them, and Lou's going to play a big part in that.
'Lou's job in this next camp is far bigger than being just a footballer.'
Captain Katie McCabe will link up with the squad in Türkiye following the UEFA Women's Champions League Final, where she aims to become the fourth Irish woman to pick up a winners' medal for Arsenal.
Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Unattached), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Louise Quinn (Unattached), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Unattached), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ruesha Littlejohn (Shamrock Rovers), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Aoibheann Clancy (Shelbourne)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Saoirse Noonan (Celtic), Erin Healy (Adelaide United)
UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE
League B, Group 2
Türkiye v Ireland Friday, May 30
Esenler Erok Stadium, Istanbul
KO 18:00 (Irish Time), 20:00 (Local Time)
Live on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player
Ireland v Slovenia
Tuesday, June 3
Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
KO 18:00
Live on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player
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