Carla Ward 'can't wait to work' with goalscorer Saoirse Noonan

Ireland striker Saoirse Noonan. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Celtic hotshot Saoirse Noonan can cure Ireland’s goalscoring problems, according to Carla Ward.

Just one goal – Kyra Carusa’s winner against Turkey – was scored over 180 minutes of the new manager’s first window last month.

The 4-0 thumping in Slovenia puts the Girls in Green in pursuit mode and they can’t slip up against bottom of the table Greece in Crete on Friday week and Tallaght on Tuesday, April 8.

Cork native Noonan has been scoring for fun in the colours of Celtic this season but wasn’t embittered by being excluded from the squad last month.

“I had a conversation with Saoirse,” said Ward.

“I only had a very short period of time to select the first squad so chose what I knew.

“I think in the period between the last camp and this camp, I've watched more fringe players and more players that I don't know anything about.

“I know a little bit about Saoirse but I like what I see. She knows where the back of the net is.

“We had 27 shots on goal against Slovenia. We wished that we had a Saoirse Noonan in and around the box.

“What I will say is the conversations I've had with her, what an unbelievable human being. 

"She wants to learn, to improve and is so passionate about the opportunity to represent her country again. She deserves this and I can't wait to work with her.” 

Ward will also work with her former Villa player Ruesha Littlejohn, despite the veteran reverting to part-time by joining Shamrock Rovers.

"I told her to do it," revealed the manager.

"She called me and said 'I have got three options. I won't tell you the other two options,' and I said, 'Go League of Ireland because think about the impact you can have on young players. Not just how you can impact the league.'

"She is a top pro. People think because of her personality that sometimes she is not a big pro but she is.

"To install that level of experience into the LOI is huge."