Boost for Ireland as Leanne Kiernan and Niamh Fahey set to return from injury

Liverpool duo Niamh Fahey and Leanne Kiernan's chances of making Vera Pauw's Republic of Ireland World Cup squad have been boosted by their return from injury this week.

The pair have been absent for several months, Kiernan sidelined since September after picking up an ankle injury in a league game against Chelsea, while the experienced defender Fahey has been out of action since January.

Their club manager Matt Beard signalled their imminent return this afternoon, confirming that both trained this week and should be available for selection for Saturday's WSL game against Manchester City.

"Niamh trained on Tuesday and Leanne Kiernan trained on Tuesday," Beard said this afternoon. "They'll both be in today and training tomorrow (Saturday), so hopefully they will be available for selection.

"It's great to have Leanne back. She's such a bubbly character, she's an infectious personality. What I love about Leanne is her work ethic and she definitely knows where the goal is and obviously her pace is a threat for any team.

"It's great to have her back on the training pitch and in and around the girls. Hopefully we can get her enough minutes to be available for Ireland at the World Cup."

Kiernan, who has earned 27 caps for Ireland since making her debut in 2018, missed the World Cup playoff against Scotland due to injury, though Pauw indicated that both her and club teammate Fahey remained in the reckoning for the World Cup squad.

International centurion Fahey, who made her Ireland debut, back in 2007, was an integral part of Ireland's successful qualification campaign, featuring in the famous win in Hampden Park last year.

With three games remaining in the Women's Super League, Liverpool sit seventh in the table and host second placed