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Aoife Mannion. PA

Manchester United defender in line for Ireland call-up

Aoife Mannion has been name-checked by Vera Pauw.

MANCHESTER UNITED DEFENDER Aoife Mannion could be in line for a call-up to the Republic of Ireland women’s national team ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

Speaking on The Green Machine podcast in recent days, Ireland manager Vera Pauw confirmed that she is considering adding former England underage international Mannion to her ranks.

The 27-year-old — born in Solihull to two Irish parents, and a classmate of Jack Grealish’s at St Peter’s School — returned to the United matchday squad for the first time since February on Saturday after recovering from a cruciate ligament knee injury.

After the Girls In Green secured qualification for a first-ever major tournament in Australia and New Zealand 2023, Pauw revealed: “We qualify and suddenly there is a lot of players with Irish backgrounds emailing you.” 

The Dutch coach stressed the need for “a very tight connection with Ireland,” and has offered several updates in recent weeks. Earlier this month, she explained that “there are four players that we are seriously looking at and following”.

“They have to be really, really better than what we have – and indeed Aoife Mannion is one of them,” Pauw told The Green Machine. “She’s coming back from an ACL injury, so we’re hoping that she will be ready, but she’s in the pipeline, and we’re dealing with her eligibility.

“After we qualified there were a lot putting their names in, but we will only use them if they have a very strong relationship with Ireland. Aoife’s parents were born in Ireland, she will be in Ireland for Christmas and new year with her grandparents, so there is a very strong connection there. But players who now jump in and think, ‘Oh, I’ve got a granny somewhere, I’ll get a passport and then I’ll play for Ireland,’ we don’t [go] for that, unless they are really, really good.

“If they are equal level, then I will choose the players who have done it, of course. This bond that we have, you can only keep it if there is that trust. But every single player would want someone who could make us stronger to come in.”

Mannion, who represented England from U15 to U23 level, received two senior Lionesses call-ups, but did not feature.

She also played Gaelic football in Birmingham as a youngster, and was on the books of Brum, Aston Villa and Manchester City before joining United in 2021.

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6 Comments
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    Mute Pat Comer
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    Dec 19th 2022, 11:46 AM

    Definitely should not be considered. If the team hadn’t qualified we’d never hear from her. She showed no interest before now having represented England all through under age up to U23. She was in two senior England panels but wasn’t selected. Now is the time to say no thanks. Stick with the players who got us to the finals.

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    Mute Michael Murray
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    Dec 19th 2022, 11:56 AM

    @Pat Comer: ….bang on the money for me. Give them the option to be part of the set up post World Cup, but no way for WC. The potential for damage to squad morale and causing friction is mind blowing.

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    Mute EnKy
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    Dec 19th 2022, 11:41 AM

    Two Irish parents? Played Gaelic football? Can someone explain why it has taken until now for Mannion to consider coming on board to play for us? I note that she is 27…..

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    Mute Declan Clancy
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    Dec 19th 2022, 11:51 AM

    @EnKy: Because like Grealish she really wants to play for England. Now she realises thats unlikely to happen and wants to jump ship to us

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    Mute TheCraftyCulchie
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    Dec 19th 2022, 1:11 PM

    She is part of the Irish diaspora with a clear and strong connection to this country. I don’t see the problem, we don’t have to pick her for the WC. Nationality is complex particularly for first generation emigrant children. I have many cousins in the US who feel both American and Irish

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    Mute Damien Mitchell
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    Dec 20th 2022, 9:51 AM

    @TheCraftyCulchie: if she felt Irish she would be with us before now I have cousins in England some are English and that’s what they regard themselves but I have also cousins who feel completely Irish hold Irish passports and would never consider themselves English despite their accents. It depends how you are brought up. Comparing Americans to Britain is very different.

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