West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s Women’s Super League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 12:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from her news conference:
Jess Ziu is in “good spirits” after having surgery on her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Defender Kirsty Smith is unavailable for selection, while Katrina Gorry will be assessed after having a viral infection earlier in the week.
There are also a few players who have come in late that are not “90-minute ready”.
On Gorry becoming the new club captain, Skinner said: “Her influence in and around the team and how approachable she is – she has been a real positive asset to the team.”
Facing Manchester United at Old Trafford is “a great way to the start the season” and a “great opportunity” for new players “to see what the WSL is about”.
Skinner said West Ham go into the start of the season “with no excuses” despite thinking “everybody will be writing us off as the underdogs”.
On recent ACL injuries, she said the footballing calendar is something “that hasn’t been addressed properly”.
