KEEVA’S IN FOR CROCKED JESS

IRELAND’S World Cup play-off preparations have been hit with a fresh blow.

West Ham ace Jess Ziu picked up a knee injury during Sunday’s FA WSL Cup penalty shootout win over London City.

Ziu (inset), who was forced off just short of the hour mark, was due to meet up with the rest of the squad this morning in Castleknock.

Her place will instead be taken by Shelbourne’s Keeva Keenan.

Ireland boss Vera Pauw’s preparations for next week’s play-off against the winners of Scotland and Austria have been rocked by injuries to key players.

Excellent

Ziu has quickly established herself as an integral part of the side and was excellent in the two recent wins over Finland and Slovakia.

Regular starters Megan Connolly and Ruesha Littlejohn are also absent through injury, as are Savannah McCarthy, Ellen Molloy, Aoife Colvill and Leanne Kiernan.

Liverpool striker Kiernan’s form for club and country had put her in the frame for a vital role in the October 11 play-off.

However, she was struck down by a serious ankle injury last month.

REVISED IRELAND

SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Brosnan (Everton), Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton), Eve Badana

(DLR Waves). Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Keeva Keenan (Shelbourne), Claire O’Riordan (Celtic), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Louise Quinn (Birmingham), 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), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Niamh Farrelly (Parma), Roma McLaughlin (Central Connecticut University), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham), Isibeal Atkinson (West Ham). Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Amber Barrett (FFC Turbine Potsdam), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge).