Shanade Hopcroft earns surprise call-up to Ireland squad for World Cup playoff

Crystal Palace midfielder Shanade Hopcroft is the surprise inclusion in Carla Ward’s Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying play-off against Kazakhstan. The 28-year-old qualifies for Ireland through her grandmother Nora Hopcroft, a native of Tubbercurry, Co Sligo.

Born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Hopcroft helped Birmingham City win promotion to the WSL last season before rejoining Palace where she had enjoyed a successful first spell, also helping them earn promotion to the WSL and being named their player of the year.