The Republic of Ireland's preparation for their upcoming friendly against the USA has hit a snag with key players Megan Campbell and Denise O'Sullivan ruled out due to injuries. Campbell sustained a knock during training, while O'Sullivan suffered a knee injury in an NWSL game. This setback compounds the team's difficulties as they face the world's top-ranked side.

Key Absences

• Megan Campbell: Injured during training.
• Denise O'Sullivan: Knee injury from NWSL match.

Additional Player Absences

Captain Katie McCabe is rested, and other notable players like Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne, and Leanne Kiernan are also missing. Long-term absentees include Jamie Finn, Lily Agg, and Jess Ziu. Aoibheann Clancy did not travel due to personal reasons.

Coach's Perspective

Coach Ward expressed concern over the situation: "The size of the task is huge. Losing key players puts us in a difficult spot. Our focus will be on implementing some pieces of the puzzle rather than the result."

Upcoming Matches

Ireland will face the USA in Denver on Friday and in Cincinnati three days later. The team has yet to secure a win against the USA in their previous 15 encounters.

Focus Areas

Despite the challenges, the team aims to focus on strategic improvements and player development during these matches.