Team news | Martin Ho on Grant’s potential return, Hamano back for Villa trip

Martin Ho has given an update on the potential return from injury of Charlotte Grant ahead of Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

The defender has been out of action since mid-November after picking up an injury in training but has slowly been working back to full fitness, which included a return to running on grass in recent weeks.

This week, she has been back for small parts of training as she continues to step up her recovery for a potential return date ahead of the upcoming international break, but our Head Coach says this ‘game comes too early’ for the Australia international.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Martin was asked if we could see the return of Charli to the matchday squad: “It probably comes too early for Charli, but she will be available next week. She is in full training all next week after being in parts of training the last few days, so she’s close.”

Meanwhile, Maika Hamano will once again be available for selection for our trip to the midlands this weekend after she was ineligible to feature in last Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea due to her loan agreement with her parent club.

Midfielder Drew Spence remains out of contention as she continues to serve her three-match suspension.

Martin will also be without long-term absentees – Ella Morris, Maite Oroz, Jess Naz and Luana Buhler.

On further team news, he added: “Ella has been in parts of training so she's getting closer but, apart from that, Maika comes back in after being ineligible last weekend and Drew still has a suspension, but we are the same as we were [from Chelsea].”