Australian side Melbourne Victory have made a surprise signing to shore up their injury problems, with Irish star Sarah Rowe coming into the fray down under.
Rowe, who previously played soccer at international level, has since turned her attention to Aussie Rules football, playing for Collingwood in the AFLW.
With Melbourne Victory suffering from a few injuries in the squad, Rowe has signed on an initial three-week deal.
And, though she is not expecting to break in to Vera Pauw's squad, Rowe said she is allowing herself to dream of next summer's World Cup, which will be held down under.
Sarah Rowe returns to soccer ahead of World Cup
With honours in Gaelic football and soccer, and a successful career thus far in the AFLW, Sarah Rowe has made a name as quite the multi-talented sportsperson over the years.
She returned to soccer action on Friday night Australian time, as she came on during Victory's clash with Perth Glory at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
27-year-old Rowe has been down under since 2018, plying her trade for Collingwood in the AFLW.
She has previously won national league and cup titles in soccer with Shelbourne, as well as represent her country at senior level - though she has not done so since 2015.
4 December 2016; Sarah Rowe of Shelbourne FC in action against Lucy McCartan of Peamount United during the Continental Tyres Women's National League game between Peamount United and Shelbourne FC at Greenogue in Newcastle, Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
That elongated absence from the national soccer team came as a result of Rowe's commitment to both the AFLW and the Mayo Gaelic footballers - but, in a surprise move, she appears ready to pivot back.
With the World Cup taking place this year in Australia and New Zealand, it is an apt time for Rowe to be back playing, and she says she is allowing herself to dream of lining out for her country at the tournament.
She said to AAP:
One can dream. I didn't think that there would be an option to get back into the squad again, having been away for so long.
Step one was getting back to playing soccer again, step two was getting signed to a club, which is Victory, step three is getting into the (Ireland) squad and then performing week in, week out.
As a player you can never think far ahead with things like that because injuries and everything needs to go right for you.
One can dream and obviously you always think big as a sportsperson but for now my focus is just on Victory.
Rowe would also say she felt like she had unfinished business in soccer, and that she had been away from the sport for longer than she would have liked.
Her first game back ended in a 1-1 draw in Melbourne.
Sarah Lowe will face a challenge to work her way into Vera Pauw's thinking for next summer, but stranger things have happened.
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