Tyler Toland's four-year Ireland exile ended by caretaker women's manager Eileen Gleeson
Tyler Toland had been drafted in from the cold by caretaker manager Eileen Gleeson for Ireland’s first ever Women’s nations League games next week.
Ireland host Northern Ireland in a landmark first game for the squad at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, September 23 (1pm) followed by a trip to Hungary three days later.
Gleeson was installed as interim boss after the FAI opted against renewing the contract of Vera Pauw despite the veteran guiding the side to their maiden tournament, the World Cup in July.
Toland was banished from the squad in early 2020 after falling out with Pauw. The Donegal midfielder, now at Blackburn Rovers, had made history by making her debut at 16 under previous boss Colin Bell.
Toland has never spoken about the rift but her father Maurice claimed she felt humiliated by remarks made during the lead-up to the Euro 2021 qualifier in Greece in November 2019.
Pauw subsequently demanded contact from the former Manchester City an Celtic player to instigate a route back but a text message sent wasn’t deemed sufficient.
There are recalls to the 25-player squad for defenders Savannah McCarthy, Hayley Nolan and Éabha O’Mahony, Toland and as well as forwards Saoirse Noonan and Emily Whelan.
Injuries rule out Niamh Fahey, Megan Campbell, Aoife Mannion, Jessie Stapleton, Claire Walsh, Tara O’Hanlon, Roma McLaughlin, Jess Ziu, Sinead Farrelly and Leanne Kiernan.
Ciara Grant and Izzy Atkinson are the two players cut from the World Cup squad.
Both Áine O'Gorman and Harriet Scott have retired from international football and will be honoured ahead of the Northern Ireland game.
The squad links up on Monday begin preparations for the new campaign with training taking place at the FAI National Training Centre.
Ireland
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