Pauw: Ireland scouting four uncapped players as Brisbane World Cup base confirmed

Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw has confirmed that she is monitoring four eligible players who could be added to the squad for next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

In October, Pauw revealed that she'd been contacted by some previously uncapped players in the wake of Ireland's qualification for the finals – and some of those potential players have caught her eye.

The manager said that they were being seriously considered, but also said that the coaching staff would be taking into account the achievements of the current group who secured Ireland’s first ever spot at a women’s major finals tournament.

"When we qualified players from all over the world who had Irish backgrounds saw a chance to be part of this team. This is an opportunity but also a risk," Pauw said at the launch of Sport Ireland’s new 'It’s My Time’ campaign.

"This squad has qualified; this squad has lived through everything so the only way we bring in players is they already have a passport or have been through that process and have to be better than what we have already. If it’s close [in standard] we don’t do it.

"The reason Lily [Agg] and Lucy [Quinn] have had such an impact is because their heart is here. Of course it is an opportunity for them but they really, really want to play for us and they have embraced the culture.

"It doesn’t mean we will be bringing them in but there are four players that we are seriously looking at and following. It's not that any of the players are not performing but when you have as many injuries as we have, other players have had to step up and we need more depth on our bench.

"Lily Agg has stepped up, Megan Campbell came in, Hayley Nolan is stepping up. That creates room for others and someone from outside