Renee Slegers has issued an update on the fitness of several players ahead of our return to Emirates Stadium on Saturday, December 6, when we face Liverpool in the Women’s Super League.
There was positive news on club captain Kim Little and vice-captain Leah Williamson, with Renee expecting both players to be involved on Saturday.
“Both Kim and Leah will be in the squad tomorrow, so that’s really positive news,” our head coach said at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday, “they’ve been training with the squad and they both look good, so that’s really positive.
“Leah has been away for much longer than Kim, so Kim is available for more minutes than Leah will be tomorrow.”
Asked about the impact of having Leah back for the first time this season, Renee felt that Leah’s impact in the dressing room will be just as valuable as the impact she can have on the pitch.
“Just the fact that she’s going to be with the team tomorrow again, she’s going to be in the changing room, she’s going to give these little injections of communication to other players.
“It’s going to be such a win for the team. We’re really happy that she’s back. She’s still building, of course, but everyone has seen how good a footballer Leah is and it will be such an addition to the team now to get her back.”
While Leah and Kim will be back for Liverpool’s visit, both Chloe Kelly and Daphne van Domselaar are set for spells on the sidelines.
“Chloe Kelly came back with an injury, a little ligament in the back of her knee. So she won’t be available tomorrow and I don’t expect her to be available for the rest of the block. But we’ll see.
“Daphne won’t be available. She’s been managing a quad tendon issue and it needed an injection, so she won’t be available for the rest of the block.”
With Manu Zinsberger a long-term absentee with an ACL injury, Renee was asked about Anneke Borbe’s readiness to step in over the next few weeks.
“Yes, she’s good. She obviously came to us from Wolfsburg and she hasn’t played any competitive game for us yet. But if you look at the game she’s played for Wolfsburg and the experience she’s built there, we have full confidence of course that she will do well for us this block.
“Of course, there’s been a highly competitive situation with Daphne as well. But she’s been doing really well. So she’s ready to play for us tomorrow.”
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