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'We need to have McCabe and O'Sullivan on the ball more' | KAREN DUGGAN

Megan Campbell's eventual return for Ireland will help their attacking structure, as it will allow Katie McCabe and Denise O'Sullivan more time up front.



'We need to have McCabe and O'...
Soccer

'We need to have McCabe and O'Sullivan on the ball more' | KAREN DUGGAN

Megan Campbell's eventual return to the Ireland squad will help Vera Pauw's attacking structure, as it will allow Katie McCabe and Denise O'Sullivan more time up front, according to Karen Duggan.

Campbell has been plagued with knee injuries throughout her career, however made her return to the Irish national squad on 2022 after a 30-month absence.

Since then, her legendarily long throw-in have been vital in setting up the Irish set piece structure and getting Ireland out of trouble.

However, the left back has not travelled with Pauw's squad for the two friendlies against the USA, and so Katie McCabe has filled in in her absence.

While McCabe has been good in that role, many would agree that the Ireland captain is best used closer towards the opposition goal.

One third of the COYGIG Pod, Karen Duggan, believes that Campbell's eventual return ahead of the World Cup in Australia will be crucial to being more attacking as a whole.

Speaking on Off The Ball, Duggan discussed the important role that Campbell plays in this Ireland team.

"We can cautiously stay in the game as long as Megan Campbell is back there," Duggan said. "She has is a natural left-footer. She gets us a lot of trouble defensively.

"We talk about her throw and the attacking threat it brings, but when you're under severe pressure for a long period of time and you can get halfway up the pitch with just a throw-in, that's a brilliant weapon.

"I'd imagine she would go into that position and it would allow Katie to push forward."

McCabe and O'Sullivan need to be on the ball

According to Duggan, the combination of McCabe and O'Sullivan at the top of the pitch is the best way for Ireland to threaten the opposition goal.

"We need her in terms of creativity up there," Duggan said. "She is very potent in front of goal, she offers a lot of threat there.

"We need to have the likes her and Denise on the ball more, not just defending in deep areas. I think Denise could legitimately make any international team in the world.

"She does not make mistakes. Out of possession, I've never seen her pushed off a ball. The amount of scrappy ball that Denise wins, for her size, is incredible. She's really, really strong.

"When she receives the ball, she always seems to have space, but it's just because her body shape is always brilliant. When she does have possession she's always really influential with it.

"It does depend on us having more possession, and that comes with Katie being higher up the pitch as well. She's really good at ball retention, and she's really clever on the ball.

"So, the positioning of those two players is going to be huge for us."

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