Leanne Kiernan suffers setback on road to recovery

Republic of Ireland striker Leanne Kiernan has suffered a setback on her recuperation from an ankle injury picked up during Liverpool's Women's Super League win against Chelsea last September.

Last month, manager Matt Beard told the Liverpool website that the Cavan native was set to return to action in February and had already taken part in some running sessions.

However, Beard's assessment on Thursday was bleaker with an April return now mooted.

"Unfortunately with Leanne, her comeback will have to be put back a month now and while we were anticipating the end of February, beginning of March, we are now looking to the beginning of April when she will be able to return," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"It was a flare-up in her heel, so they had to remove a bit of scar tissue, drain some fluid and then give her an injection to help that settle down, so she will be in a protective boot for a week.

"Hopefully that means she will be back out on the training pitch by the end of next week and then back running the week after that."

Kiernan’s injury kept her out of Ireland’s historic World Cup play-off win against Scotland in October.

She has scored four times in 27 appearances for her country and will be hoping to be back in time to earn a spot in Vera Pauw’s squad for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

The side’s first game is against Australia in July, a game that has been moved to the 82,500-capacity Accor Stadium due to the huge demand for tickets.