Katie McCabe has welcomed Rianna Jarrett joining the growing ranks of Irish women playing professional football in England, saying she believes it can help realise the squad's dream of qualification for a first major tournament.

Jarret joined Brighton & Hove Albion from her home-town club Wexford Youths over Christmas and scored a double on her debut last week.

"She's been fantastic and it’s more than deserved," Ireland captain and Arsenal star McCabe told RTÉ Soccer Correspondent Tony O'Donoghue ahead of Thursday's Euro 2021 qualifier with Greece (live on RTÉ2).

"She’s worked her socks off for it and I’m delighted to see it going so well for her.

"Hopefully she can take that form into Thursday night for us.

"It’s great to see the girls getting across the water and really pushing themselves to get playing professionally.

"It’s going to make a difference for us now as a national team going forward, reaching that professional level and achieving our goal of hopefully qualifying for an international tournament."

Ireland captain McCabe also welcomed the return of 100-cap veteran Áine O'Gorman, who has come out of retirement amid a full-back injury crisis in Vera Pauw's squad.

"When I saw her from the first time it was like she never left," said McCabe.

"Her experience is going to really help us going forward. She has over 100 caps. She has been fantastic for us in the past and ever-present with Peamount.

"I'm hoping she can take that into the squad and spur us on.

"I’ve been enjoying it at Arsenal, I think playing left-back brings another level to my game. I enjoy being that versatile player. But I’m hoping to play higher up the park on Thursday and get some goals."

Full-time: Greece 1-1 Ireland - Heartbreak for Ireland as an injury time equaliser from Anastasia Spyridonidou gives the hosts a 1-1 draw in Athens. #rtesoccer #GREIRL #20x20 pic.twitter.com/hUhmxd3PuN — RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 12, 2019

In November, Ireland led in Greece for almost 80 minutes before conceding an injury-time equaliser.

McCabe is determined not to let Ireland's opponents off the hook this time as they chase one of the top two spots in Group I, which also contains World No 2 side Germany.

"It was quite frustrating obviously to concede in the later stages of the game," said McCabe of November's 1-1 draw.

"We completely dominated the game and had great chances, Amber scored that fantastic goal, but for us now it's about making sure we stay on top when we are dominating teams, how we can get that second and third goal to really kill teams off.

"We’ve put ourselves in a fantastic position with two wins and a draw. Hopefully now on Thursday we can better that and then go in to Monenegro gain.

"But we’re very much taking it game by game."

Watch Republic of Ireland v Greece from 7pm Thursday on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player and follow our live blog on RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News Now app