It’s Vera and the girls who kept me going - Campbell
mind,’ Campbell said of the fact that she almost hung up her boots because of her injury problems.
‘If it wasn’t for Vera and the girls here keeping me going, I might have done. And since I signed with Liverpool, they have worked brilliantly with me and got me back to where I am now.’
The knee problems are in the cartilage and will continue for Campbell, although she hopes to be available for selection for Tuesday evening. But such is the state of her joint that it almost takes managing day to day.
‘Since I have gone to Liverpool, I have worked hard on my schedule with the staff there, and they’ve got me to a stage where I know what works best with my knee and my body. And, thankfully, when I come into camp they have been very accepting of that.
‘Once I am performing on the pitch, and in training when I do train, I am happy and I feel confident. Any selection after that is Vera’s decision. I was just trying to do everything I
could to put myself in the best place and, if needed on game day, I will give everything I have.’
As she proved in Tallaght, Campbell’s long throws are a serious weapon in the Irish armoury. Between her knees and the throw, it was suggested to her that she is a mixture of Paul McGrath and Rory Delap.
‘If I had a career like Paul McGrath, I would be happy,’ she said shyly.
‘I think Vera respects now what I have to do in order to perform at my best.
‘There are always other players coming through but I am very grateful that I am able to still play for my national team.’