Eileen Gleeson has plan and programmes in place to maintain fitness ahead of Sweden games

Eileen Gleeson is in contact with all her UK-based players to ensure they maintain their fitness in the weeks between the end of their club seasons and the first of two Euro 2025 qualifiers against Sweden at the end of the month.

Following defeats to France and England in their opening games, Gleeson yesterday announced her squad to face the world's sixth-ranked team.

Niamh Fahey, Heather Payne, Chloe Mustaki, Tara O'Hanlon and Jamie Finn miss out through injury, but Gleeson's more immediate concern is the fitness and match sharpness of those named in the squad.

Differences in the scheduling of seasons between leagues in England, Ireland and the United States mean that players across the panel are at different stages of their club season.

Questions were raised regarding fitness and motivation at the end of a long season for those in the Women's Super League in England, but Gleeson insisted that a plan is in place:

"Our fitness coach has been in touch with all the clubs. We link with every player directly."

Gleeson explains that not all clubs have the same approach: "Some are putting on extra sessions to have their international players ready for these camps.

"Some aren't, so we are taking up the mantle with that, providing the programme directly to the players."

Concerns have been raised that players inactive for six weeks won't be in form, but Gleeson is confident that a break isn't a negative.

"It's good that they have a break for the couple of weeks off, but they’ve all been pretty committed to their programme knowing they could be potentially selected for this."

The main message from the head coach is that communication is key when managing player schedules: "That dialogue is between clubs, the player and our performance