Man City boss gives injury update on England forward

Manchester City Women’s team boss Gareth Taylor has confirmed star forward Lauren Hemp is back in training ahead of the home clash with Brighton this Sunday. The Lionesses winger has been absent the beginning of November but the head coach is confident that he will be able to include her in his matchday squad sooner rather than later as he gave a full injury update in Friday’s press conference.

"Lauren has been back in training with us over the last couple of days” said Taylor. “We'll give it another 24 hours and she where she is at. The temptation is obviously to have these players back and it is the same with the likes of Vicky Losada.

“I think, hopefully, over this next period of games we might see a couple of them back. Outside of that everyone is in fairly good shape and in a good feeling.”

Taylor’s side head into the game against Brighton in fourth place after a sensational run which has saw them win their last seven games in all competitions. One of the key reasons for City’s upturn in form has been thanks to top scorer Bunny Shaw, who is already in double figures for the season - but Taylor has urged caution with a busy period of fixtures to come.

“I think she is obviously really confident. As a striker when you know you have a real good opportunity to play with these players around her that create really good opportunities for her, then the likliehood is she going to get those opportunties in the game.

“But we have to make sure we manage her in the right way. When we go into these three game weeks that is a big ask for any player, esecially with the enegy Bunny puts into the game.

“The game is won in both boxes and we've had Bunny Shaw really contributing with the top end players and we've been frugal at the other end of the pitch aswell which I think is needed for any team to be successful”.

Taylor was also full of praise for Euro 2022 final hero Chloe Kelly, dispute the forward being yet to get off the mark this campaign.

"I think Chloe is a player and person that, when you work with her, you realise she has a real steely determination to do everything she can in her career. Her ambitions are really set high. She holds herself accontable for that.

“But she contributes in so many ways. We have to mindful that she missed the entire of last season (due to injury) and came right in late at the end. She had a great finish to the Euros but didn’t play a lot of minutes and is still finding that consistenty of games under her belt.

“She will get that and once we see her playing week in, week out over a period of a dozen games, then we will start to see more contributions at the top end. But she is doing a lot for the team and I think that needs to be recognised.

Manchester City face Brighton this Sunday at the Manchester City Academy Stadium with kick off scheduled for 2pm.