We can lean on each other for anything - Abbie Larkin

It has been a challenging campaign at Crystal Palace for Abbie Larkin and her great friend Izzy Atkinson.

The pair helped the Eagles to win the Championship last year, but life in the Women’s Super League is unforgiving.

Palace are rock bottom, having won just a single league game so far this season.

While Larkin has at least been getting decent minutes off the bench (she scored in a 2-0 FA Cup win against Newcastle two weeks ago), Atkinson has struggled to even make the squad since the turn of the year.

Carla Ward named both in her Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Turkey and Slovenia; it's potentially an opportunity to prove a point, make an impact and return to club duty with renewed confidence.

"It is tough in the WSL, everyone's fighting for their place," said ex-Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers winger Larkin, who shares digs in London with Atkinson.

"It's just the way the game goes and obviously we have each other anyway, so we can lean on each other for anything.

"It’s sad her not being there, but she comes in, she still joins in with the team and she just watches from a different perspective, but she’s still with us."

Last week Ward admitted Atkinson is perhaps not fulfilling her potential right now, saying: "When she comes in (to camp), we will sit down, probably give her some tough love and say 'we need you’. She has got huge potential. She is a great young player."

Larkin, almost four years younger, is in a slightly different situation career wise. She was a breakout star at the 2023 World Cup, producing a sparkling turn off the bench in the opening match against Australia at the Accor Stadium. The Ringsend flyer looked made for the big stage.

A short stint at Glasgow City was