Irish Daily Star - Inside Sport
LITTLE’ by LITTLE IT Is sINKINg IN!
RUESHA LITTLEJOHN has admitted that Ireland’s historic World Cup qualification hasn’t fully sunk in yet. Injury meant the Aston Villa midfielder was a spectator at Hampden Park last October when Vera Pauw’s side defeated Scotland to clinch their place in this summer’s tournament. But she is back in the fold once again and is eager to use the current training camp in Spain to advance her claims for a place in Australia. She admitted, however, that she still has to pinch herself every so often when she thinks about the adventure that awaits the Girls in Green. “A few of us went for coffee yesterday and we were walking and we were just saying, ‘We’re actually going to the World Cup’,” said Littlejohn (32). “Obviously you are not there until you are there, your seat on the plane won’t be finalised until June or July, so we are a while away. You are not there until you are there. “It’s amazing what an achievement it is. How long it has taken us to get here, it’s been years, a long process, so we are absolutely delighted.
Plane
“It’s still a long way away, but everyone is working together and hopefully everyone stays fit and healthy, and we can all make that plane.” She can’t focus too much on the World Cup, however, as there is still half a season left at club level. Villa are fifth in the Women’s Super League, with Everton and West Ham breathing down their necks. Littlejohn said: “I think it’s almost in the back of your mind. We are all working towards the World Cup. “But you can’t think about it every day, you have got to crack on with club football and focus on each week and each game at the end of the week. That’s probably the main focus. “I think probably a couple of months down the line, when the World Cup is getting closer and it’s going to be in your mind even more. “Obviously there’s the pressure of wanting to make the team, of hoping you stay fit and healthy. “But you can’t stress about it, you have just got to try and be relaxed and to look at it as a journey. “It’s an exciting place to be. I think all the girls think the same. But when you are at your club you have just got to focus on the club and take it one step at a time.” A broken foot, which was followed by a torn calf, sidelined Littlejohn from last year’s play-off.
Stressful
Recalling the Scotland clash, the Glasgow-born midfielder insisted: “There were no mixed emotions, no. But it was very stressful I must admit. “You’re obviously watching it as a fan, but then you’ve got all those other emotions attached to it of knowing all the girls and you want to be down on the side of the pitch with them. “I was sitting in the stand with my family but then I had to leave and go to the back of the stadium and stand in a wee stairwell and watch it from there. “It was absolutely nerve racking. “We watched the clips there yesterday in a team meeting and I didn’t realise how many chances we actually had in the game. “I know we had possession but I didn’t know we had so many chances. It was so emotional, so intense. “What a relief when Amber (Barrett) goes through and scores and we win the game.”