Leanne Kiernan: The hunger to come back has been crazy

Republic of Ireland striker Leanne Kiernan said she felt like "a newborn lamb" when she first started running again after a nasty injury that effectively wiped out her whole season.

Now the Cavan woman is playing with a spring in her step as she targets a dream ticket to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Last September Kiernan damaged her ankle in action for Liverpool against Chelsea in their first Women's Super League game of the season.

It decimated her campaign. Kiernan only got back on pitch in May for the Reds' penultimate league game having come through surgery, relapses and a painstaking rehabilitation programme.

But this horror story could yet have a happy ending after Vera Pauw included Kiernan in her training camp squad ahead of next Thursday's friendly against Zambia, a match that looks like a criticial audition for the Bailieborough 24-year-old.

The stakes are high - not that she's fretting too much. Kiernan has always been a laid-back figure capable of putting things into perpsective.

"I'm hoping I have that advantage of being fresh and ready to go."

"Is it a stressful situation being in here? No. I'm buzzing to be back," she said at the UCD Bowl where Ireland held an open training camp in front of around 1200 supporters on Friday morning.

"I feel really confident in myself and my ability. Hopefully that's enough.

"The hunger to come back and play has been crazy in my head. I've been... not resting, but I haven't been on my legs as much as everyone else this year. I'm hoping I have that advantage of being fresh and ready to go."

Kiernan does indeed look fresh and ready to go, delighting the crowd at UCD with a screamer that flew into the top corner during a full-pitch training game.

She's full of beans and