Eileen Gleeson has spoken out about Ireland captain Katie McCabe's potential involvement in Arsenal's contentious post-season jaunt to Australia.
The north London club announced this month that they will travel to Melbourne in late May for an exhibition game against an A-League All-Star XI.
The game will form part of a double-header on Friday May 24th, with the Newcastle men's team playing a similar exhibition earlier in the evening.
Arsenal have drawn controversy for staging the friendly, however, with the game scheduled to take place just six days after their final game of the WSL season against Brighton and Hove Albion. The decision to trek across the world for a post-season friendly mere days after the season's end has raised more than a few eyebrows.
For Ireland fans, the news is especially concerning given the likely involvement of Katie McCabe ahead of a crucial window of EURO 2025 qualifiers. The home game against Sweden takes place just one week after Arsenal's game in Australia, with legitimate concerns about player welfare with the demands that will be put on the Gunners' international contingent.
Head coach Eileen Gleeson named her Ireland squad for the first window of EURO 2025 qualifiers and addressed her captain's potential involvement in the "far from ideal" fixture.
READ HERE: Brian Kerr Has Changed His Tune On Biggest Stephen Kenny Criticism
READ HERE: McCarthy And Delaney Identify Glaring Issue Which Cost Ireland v Switzerland
Eileen Gleeson addresses Katie McCabe's involvement in Arsenal's Australia friendly
27 February 2024; Katie McCabe of Republic of Ireland during the international women's friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Wales at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Gleeson said that she had concerns about the welfare of McCabe and the Arsenal squad, concerns which have been echoed by other international coaches.
When asked if she had been in contact with Arsenal to raise issue with the friendly, Gleeson said:
The short answer is no, we haven't spoken to Arsenal yet.
We obviously have it factored into our planning processes if she is in it. But we'll have to wait for that conversation with the club whether she will or won't be involved in that.
It's far from ideal. I think Sarina [Wiegman] and other coaches have mentioned it in their squad announcements and conversations.
It's a long travel trip with a quick turnaround, it's directly post-the end of the season, straight into a really long travel trip directly before qualifiers. It poses a real challenge for us and for the player as well.
But, if it happens, we'll have to manage it and best prepare if she is involved.
Should McCabe be involved in Melbourne on May 24, she will have the long trek back home to Dublin to contend with before joining up with the Ireland camp for the second window of EURO 2025 qualifiers.
The home game against Sweden in the Aviva Stadium takes place on May 31, just seven days after Arsenal's Aussie expedition. Ireland then travel for the return fixture, in a venue yet to be decided, on June 4.
On Thursday morning, McCabe was named in a strong Ireland squad for the first window of EURO 2025 qualifiers. Denise O'Sullivan and Tyler Toland both return, having missed last month's window of friendlies, while there is a first call-up for Aston Villa's Anna Patten.
Ireland face France on Friday April 5th in Metz, before a mouthwatering home tie against England in the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday April 9th.
SEE ALSO: Report: Roy Keane Given Serious Consideration By FAI In Hunt For Next Ireland Manager
