Shanade Hopcroft has been called up by Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward for next month’s Women’s World Cup play-off against Kazakhstan.
The Crystal Palace midfielder, 28, was born in England and qualifies for the Republic of Ireland through her County Sligo-born grandmother. She came through the Chelsea academy and has also played for Birmingham City and London City Lionesses, returning to Crystal Palace earlier this month following a spell at Birmingham City.
Ward also welcomes back experienced defender Heather Payne, who is included for the first time in a year.
She will, however, be without several players for the opening leg. Captain Katie McCabe and midfielder Marissa Sheva are both suspended, while Denise O’Sullivan will not travel with the squad for the first game. Tara O’Hanlon (hamstring) and Saoirse Noonan (ankle) are ruled out of both matches, and Ruesha Littlejohn, currently without a club, has not been included.
The Republic of Ireland dropped into the play-offs after missing out on automatic World Cup qualification, losing their winner-takes-all final qualifier against France in June. They made their World Cup debut at the 2023 tournament in Australia.
Ward’s side play the first leg in Astana on 9 October (12:00 BST) before hosting Kazakhstan at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork on 13 October (19:30). If they progress, they will face Poland or Belgium in the play-off final.
Republic of Ireland squad:
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Southampton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic).
Defenders: Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Heather Payne (Leicester City), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jessie Stapleton (Leicester City), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest), Katie McCabe (Chelsea).
Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (Gotham FC), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Aoibheann Clancy (Watford), Jamie Finn (Burnley), Lucy Quinn (Sheffield United), Tyler Toland (Burnley), Jess Ziu (Leicester City), Shanade Hopcroft (Crystal Palace).
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (HB Koge), Amber Barrett (Strasbourg), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Emily Murphy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Leanne Kiernan (Newcastle United).