Anna Patten called up to Ireland squad for European qualifiers

Michael Bolton

Aston Villa defender Anna Patten has been called up to the Ireland squad for the first time as Eileen Gleeson named her squad for the upcoming European qualifiers against France and England.

Patten has played every game for Aston Villa in the Women's Super League this season, and could make her debut should she receive international clearance from FIFA.

Elsewhere, Denise O'Sullivasn returns from injury after missing the February friendlies against Italy and Wales, while Tyler Toland also returns from injury.

Tara O'Hanlon, Jamie Finn and Sinead Farrelly all miss out through injury.

Ireland get their campaign underway in France on April 5th, before hosting World Cup runnes-up England at the Aviva Stadium on April 9th.

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes).

Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Reading - on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses).

Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Bristol City), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Heather Payne (Everton), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace).

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Emily Murphy (Wake Forest University).