Playoff blow for Vera Pauw as Leanne Kiernan ruled out for 'several months'

The Ireland striker picked up an ankle injury in Liverpool's win over Chelsea.

GROUNDED: Leanne Kiernan of Republic of Ireland and Kristína Košíková of Slovakia during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Qualifier match between Slovakia and Republic of Ireland at National Training Centre in Senec, Slovakia. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Striker Leanne Kiernan will miss the Republic of Ireland's World Cup playoff in Austria or Scotland on October 11 after she was ruled out for "several months" with an ankle injury she suffered playing for Liverpool in Sunday's WSL win over Chelsea.

Kiernan was forced off in the second half of that game in some pain and Liverpool now report that results of a scan suggest she may need surgery on the injury.