Five years on from a cancer diagnosis, Chloe Mustaki is looking forward to Ireland's upcoming Euro 2021 qualifier against Ukraine, where she'll make her first senior international appearance.
Mustaki; who led the U-19s out in their magical journey at the European Championships in 2014, where they bowed out to eventual winners the Netherlands in the semi-finals, has been speaking to FAI TV ahead of the fixture.
"I'm hugely proud and privileged, obviously, a lot of girls want to be in my position so I'm doing my best and looking forward to Tuesday.
"Everyone's really happy out in the camp, training has been really good, intense, everyone's working really hard and it should be a really good game against Ukraine.
"I'm looking forward to a big crowd being there to support us so it'll be great and hopefully, we get the win."
The crowd is set to make history as a new attendance record for an Irish Women’s Senior game will be set with all 8,000 tickets for Tallaght Stadium either sold or claimed by FAI season ticket holders.
Ireland go into this fixture looking to claim two wins from two after defeating Montengro in their opening qualifier in September.
#IRLWNT History beckons for Vera Pauw’s Girls In Green 🇮🇪
All 8,000 tickets for the #WEURO2021 Qualifier against Ukraine on 8 October have now been sold or claimed by FAI season ticket holders
Full info ➡️https://t.co/stA0RgrtEU #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/pNIEufd39O
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) October 4, 2019
It will be new manager Vera Pauw’s first game on the line with the Girls in Green after being appointed as Colin Bell's successor last month.
The Amsterdam native previously managed Scotland for nearly six years before landing the Dutch job.
Mustaki says she's already made quite an impression on the squad;
"I think she's going to be hugely beneficial to us going forward.
"As a nation, we're notoriously defensive-minded and I think she's bringing that attacking aspect so I'm looking forward to a few goals, I hope."
Mustaki, who received her first international call-up at just 13, has also been speaking about her personal health after she went through a battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma five years ago.
She says she's now feeling "great" and has never been in a better place in terms of herself, her fitness and her football.
"Obviously, it was a tough time in my life back then but I got through it and am for the better now, health-wise everything's perfect, thank God
"I think it's changed me for the good and the bad, to be honest.
"It's definitely made me stronger, it's interesting seeing what life can bring in terms of good and bad."
On her own personal future, she's also optimistic about where she's going;
"I just moved to London a few weeks ago for work.
"In terms of football I'm looking to sign for a club in England soon so not sure where that'll be but hopefully, it'll bring me forward and improve my quality of football.
"Onwards and upwards I hope it [her good form] continues.
"Of course as well I hope to keep my place in the squad here."
Ireland face Ukraine in their second Euro 2021 qualifier at Tallaght Stadium at 7.30pm on Tuesday 8th October.
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