Amber Barrett: 'I'm very accepting of the role that's given to me - whatever role that is'

Amber Barrett during a Republic of Ireland women's training session at Fota Island Resort. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Ireland’s most feted female supersub Amber Barrett isn’t bothered by retaining the tag four years after firing her team to an historic World Cup qualification.

Barrett’s 2022 toe-poke in extra-time of the playoff at Hampden Park etched her name into the annals of Irish sport, even if the tournament experience itself in Australia wasn’t so personally rewarding.

Carla Ward has been economical in her use of substitutes since taking charge 18 months ago but, when the coveted game-changers are called upon, the Donegal woman is top of the list.

In three of Ireland’s four qualifiers during this tilt at securing back-to-back appearances at the World Cup, Barrett has been sprung from the sideline.

Suspensions to Emily Murphy and Denise O’Sullivan could reshape Ward’s plans to include Barrett from the start in Friday’s visit of the Netherlands to Pairc Uí Chaoimh but the 30-year-old, on the books of RC Strasbourg since January, won’t baulk at performing the impact sub role again.

“I think, in my own position, that kind of super-sub label has kind of been hanging over my head for a bit of a long time,” said the 30-year-old ahead of likely her 58th cap.

“It's not ideally something you want but, at the same time, I'm very accepting of the role that's given to me at any stage - whatever role that is.

“Sometimes I think I’m a wee bit unlucky not to get the nod but I’m also the type of person that if it’s not a starting position I get, I must be ready to come on at any stage.

“It’s no good for anyone if I’m running around with a miserable face on me because it’s not about me, it’s about everyone. That’s where it has worked really well for me.

“When you carry yourself in that light, the opportunities come and you know you are ready for them. I never have any doubt that I’m ready to go.” 

Ward’s reliance on her first XI increases the importance of the task set on the few subs. 

Barrett has been thrust into the fray in various scenarios and her orders in the most recent victory away to Poland were different to when she went chasing the winner against Scotland all of four years ago.

“In the last 20 minutes we went a bit defensive so it was up to me to ensure balls coming up to you stick. And when it’s time to run down the clock you are the one to do it, holding the ball in the corner to take as long out of the game as possible.

“I think it's not individual. to be honest.

“It's quite collective that we've looked at and for the last number of months we've looked at what it will look like if we're going into the last 30 minutes or 20 minutes of the game and this is the situation or this is the gameplay.” 

Barrett’s dependability is earned by the depth of experience she’s accumulated on the Continent.

From leaving Peamount United in 2019, she’s graced the German, Belgian and now French leagues – the latter pitting her against some of the opponents in the France team next Tuesday.

England or Scotland, the default choice for most Irish players, hasn’t trumped her European journey.

“It’s probably been a wee bit conscious but also due to the way things played out,” she explains of our career trajectory.

“I don't know what it is about being away from home and being in different countries but I've just really loved that new cultural aspect and different types of football like I've played in Germany, France and Belgium now.

“The types of football they play in each country is so diverse. It's something that I feel has really, really helped and shaped my game in a really positive way.

“Working with different coaches, different expectations from teams and learning a new language has been also something that I've really, really enjoyed.

“That’s ironic given I wasn't very good at languages in school whereas I feel like I'm kind of stuck now trying to speak French with a Donegal accent.

“That’s a wee bit more difficult than it would like to be!

“England is great, definitely leading the way in terms of professionalism and standards and raising the bar for women's football but, I have certainly loved my time abroad.

“Being in Europe and being able to travel when I get that opportunity with time off and stuff is great.

“I'm a train ride away from three or four different countries in my current position.

“I think you know as much as I love playing football life is also too short to be stuck in one box all the time so I've really enjoyed that aspect of it as well.”