Day at the beach just the ticket for Ruesha Littlejohn

Denise O’Sullivan’s expected return from a challenge against Colombia will see the identity of her midfield companion being a straight shootout between Littlejohn and Lily Agg

R&R: Republic of Ireland's Ruesha Littlejohn poses for a portrait at the Emporium Hotel South Bank in Brisbane, Australia, ahead of the start of the Women's World Cup. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

She’s not one to crib but Ruesha Littlejohn was entitled to cool off this week by venturing to the Gold Coast for a dip in the sea.

A season that began in September with an injury, a broken foot sustained against Finland for Ireland, ended prematurely in March with a second setback, this one a knee wound on Aston Villa duty.