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:
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Jess Ziu is in “good spirits” after having surgery on her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
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Defender Kirsty Smith is unavailable for selection, while Katrina Gorry will be assessed after having a viral infection earlier in the week.
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There are also a few players who have come in late that are not “90-minute ready”.
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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.”
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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”.
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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”.
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On recent ACL injuries, she said the footballing calendar is something “that hasn’t been addressed properly”.
