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      Chelsea ace Fran Kirby says she is still ‘building confidence’ after her illness ahead of Arsenal League Cup tie

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      FRAN KIRBY revealed she is still rebuilding her confidence after being told she may never play football again due to a rare heart condition.
      The Chelsea and England star, 27, has been on fire since her return, hitting twice in all three of the Blues’ top-flight games so far this season.

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      Fran Kirby has scored twice in the opening three games of the WSL

      Kirby was diagnosed with pericarditis – an inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the heart – in November.
      She made an emotional return to football in the Blues’ win over Manchester City in the Community Shield at the end of August.
      The West Londoners are preparing to defend their Continental Cup trophy against last year’s finalists, Arsenal, in their opening tie on Wednesday.
      And the strike sensation told Chelsea’s official website : “I feel 100 per cent fit. I wouldn’t be playing if I didn’t,

      “That’s the most important thing I’ve learned over my career. I need to make sure that I’m looking after myself and that every time I step on the pitch I’m 100 per cent ready to go.
      “I’m feeling really good, so hopefully I can keep building on that and I’ve properly pushed myself to the limit this year. I’m in a really good place.
      “When I know that we’ve got so many good players who can come into the game and make an impact, it’s exciting for me to be a part of and I want to keep growing and building my confidence.”
      Some clubs will be streaming the games live and the FA Player will have all matches available to fans for the day after.

      Group Stage 1 of the Continental Cup
      Wednesday, October 7
      Liverpool v Manchester United – 2pm
      Tottenham Hotspur v London City Lionesses – 3.30pm
      Chelsea v Arsenal – 7pm
      Durham v Coventry United – 7pm
      Manchester City v Everton – 7pm
      Aston Villa v Sheffield United, 7.30pm
      Brighton & Hove Albion v West Ham United – 7.30pm
      Reading v Charlton Athletic – 7.30pm
      Bristol City v London Bees – 7.30pm
      Lewes v Crystal Palace – 7.45pm
      Thursday, October 8
      Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City – 7.45pm

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      Sam Mewis sends Citizens into FA Cup final after Steph Houghton’s brilliant free-kick opener

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      SAM MEWIS fired Manchester City into the final of the FA Cup with her first goal in English football.
      Citizens skipper Steph Houghton opened the scores by curling in a peach of a free kick mid-way through the first-half.

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      Steph Houghton celebrates after giving Arsenal the leadCredit: Rex Features

      The Gunners hit back and Jordan Nobbs drew the North Londoners level after unleashing a fierce drive from 25-yards out.
      But just TWO minutes later World Cup winner Mewis slotted home thanks to Ellen White cutely nudging the ball backwards in the box after being mowed down by Leah Williamson.
      City were let off in the dying moments when Katie McCabe whipped the ball across goal, but no one was there to make the crucial touch.
      Boss Gareth Taylor said: “I pride myself on the football we play, someone told me we were the holders of the competition and it confused me!

      “It’s great to be going back to Wembley.”
      Arsenal boss Montemurro accepted defeat after her side failed to meet their usual standards.
      She said: “They dominated the first 60 mins, they were better than us, we have no excuses.
      “It’s disappointing because we have the capacity to play well and tonight wasn’t the night.”

      And Gunners golascorer Nobbs added: “The first half they were the better team, we didn’t keep the ball well and that was the crucial point.
      “In the second half we showed we could play football and if we’d done that in the first half we’d have been a better team.
      “We didn’t do enough tonight so congratulations to Man City.”

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      The Citizens skipper curled home a free-kickCredit: PA:Press Association

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      World Cup winner Rose Lavelle set for Man City debut in FA Cup tie against Arsenal, hints Gareth Taylor

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      GARETH TAYLOR teased the prospect of World Cup winner Rose Lavelle making her debut for Manchester City in their Women’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal.
      Taylor’s players face the Gunners on Thursday in the semis of a contest delayed from last term because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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      Rose Lavelle could be set to make her debut for Manchester City on Thursday evening Credit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

      His team, which includes Lavelle, 25, and her US teammate Sam Mewis among their new signings, are vying for a place in the final of a competition they have won twice.
      And the City boss reckons the USA playmaker, who helped knock the Lionesses out of the World Cup last year, is “keen” to make her mark.
      Taylor, 47, said: “Rose has been training hard. What we’re trying to do with her is just make sure that when she is introduced –  which is hopefully over the next couple of games, that she’s ready –  because she is quite slight in stature and she had an issue when she first came to us with a slight injury.

      “She has been really keen to get back in and start joining in the matches.
      “It’s just been a case of keeping the reins on her slightly, just before we let her go and do her thing so, hopefully, we start to see that and, again, it gives us another option, which is great.
      Taylor’s players, who defeated a high-energy Leicester City in the quarter-finals, will host Joe Montemurro’s Arsenal at the Academy Stadium.
      The North London side, who lost to Chelsea in the finals in 2018, have won the cup on 14 occasions.

      And the Gunners boss, whose line-up is likely to include Lisa Evans, the hat-trick hero from their win against Tottenham, says his team will take a “do or die” approach.

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      Lavelle (right) and her USA team-mate Alex Morgan are among several NWSL stars who joined Women’s Super League clubs this term Credit: Reuters

      Montemurro, 51, said: “There needs to be a level of patience also tomorrow, because they are a very good ball playing side, and we just need to be smart in terms of picking our times and our ability to win the ball back.
      “But it’s a do or die and there are moments in the game that we need to make sure we’re prepared for and don’t let ourselves down.”
      “The team that get into their rhythm as quick as possible and is able to control and dictate is going to be very very important because we are similar footballing sides.”

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      Arsenal 4 Tottenham 0: Spurs new-girl Alex Morgan forced to watch Lisa Evans-inspired Gunners run riot from stands

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      AMERICAN superstar Alex Morgan was forced to watch as Lisa Evans hit a hat-trick to fire rampant Arsenal into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
      Jordan Nobbs broke the deadlock with a superb chip on 73 minutes.

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      Lisa Evans’ hat-trick inspired Arsenal to a 4-0 win over Tottenham in the FA Cup quarter-finals

      Evans doubled the lead one minute later and the Scottish international wrapped it up with two more to continue the Gunners’ bid for a record 15th FA Cup.
      Spurs’ statement signing Morgan, who has won two World Cups, a Champions League and an Olympic gold medal, spent the afternoon wrapped up in the stands.
      Morgan has been out of action for over a year due to injury and giving birth to her daughter, Charlie, just four months ago.
      Spurs boss Karen Hills said: “Alex has been incredible. She’s come out of her comfort zone and wants to come to England and try something different.

      “We felt it was important for her to be part of matchday preparations and to get her in shorts and socks and get her in a matchday environment.
      “She’s nervous and hasn’t been in that situation for the past year.

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      Jordan Nobbs opened the scoring with an audacious chip from outside the box

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      Four goals in the final 20 minutes booked Arsenal’s ticket to the semis

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      Evans’ goals rounded out a derby win for the Gunners

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      New Spurs signing Alex Morgan watched the game from the stands
      “She is a great leader and has fantastic experience.
      “Having someone like that around the changing room is fantastic, but it was just not meant to be today.

      “She’s working really hard, growing day by day and physically is in great shape.”
      Her Orlando Pride pals, Shelina Zadorsky and Alanna Kennedy, made the starting XI, having also penned short-term deals.
      Spurs started brightly and Arsenal stopper Manuela Zinsberger came close to gifting them the opener after she was almost caught out playing out from the back.
      Kennedy lofted a header agonizingly close to the far post in the second half.

      But the Gunners have had a player hit a hat-trick in their last three games  and boss Joe Montemurro joked: “We draw straws over who gets a hat-trick and we pick a player!
      “I was very pleased with the second-half when we came out and stepped it up a gear.”
      Hat-trick hero Evans added: “We didn’t want to go to extra time and penalties so we had to get it done in 90 minutes.” 

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      Leicester Women’s ace Holly Morgan aims for FA Cup upset against Man City

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      HOLLY MORGAN is part of a unique family set-up at Leicester City Women’s football club.
      The Foxes ace is the only captain of a Women’s Championship side managed by a head coach who is also her brother.

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      Holly Morgan says Leicester are aiming to ‘put on a show’ against Man City in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      On Sunday Morgan, 27, will skipper a group of Leicester players attempting to pull off a quarter-final shock in the Women’s FA Cup.
      And the centre-back, who shares her surname with her famous counterpart in Brendan Rodgers’ team, is aiming to defeat one of the Women’s Super League big guns.
      The Foxes captain and her team-mates, who include former Reading ace Remi Allen, will take on Manchester City for a place in the FA Cup’s semis.

      And the centre-back, who has been with Leicester since age 11, was in a bullish mood before the clash with a side which includes two World Cup winners.
      Morgan said: “Man City are solid team and that was before the signings they’ve made.
      “With the new signings, they’ve only got stronger and better. But at the end of the day, we’re excited about the fixture.
      “We’re there to compete and we’re there to show that we’re not just making up the numbers.

      “We’re there to progress further into FA Cup and we’re ready to put on a show.”

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      Morgan (right) and her Foxes team-mates are currently second in the Women’s ChampionshipCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Leicester have strengthened their squad with former Reading midfielder Remi Allen (left) joining their ranks this summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      2020 has been a year of big changes for Leicester, who are currently second in the Women’s Championship and aiming for WSL promotion.
      Foxes icon Emile Heskey, 42, was appointed the team’s football ambassador.
      And the squad became a professional outfit this term after being acquired by the King Power owners of Leicester’s Prem side.

      We have a very good working dynamic and there is a lot of trust in Holly as captain
      Jonathan Morgan – Leicester City Women’s Manager

      The Morgan family have been at the heart of these transformations with Holly’s father Rohan as the club chair, her sister Jade working as general manager, and her brother Jonathan as team boss.

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      Jonathan Morgan’s Leicester players beat Reading to claim their place in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And the former Hinckley United player has no qualms about managing a side captained by his sister.
      But the Foxes manager reckons it can sometimes be “an easy Achilles heel”.
      Jonathan said: “I’ve been doing it (coaching Holly) for six years now with lots of positives and a couple of negatives. 

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      Emile Heskey became Leicester City’s women’s football ambassador this monthCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “There’s obviously not being too soft on her so people think, ‘oh, why are you being soft on her?’
      “It’s an easy get out of jail card for people sometimes and it is an easy Achilles heel because she’s my sister.
      “But we have a very good working dynamic and there is a lot of trust in Holly as captain.”

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      Karen Hills says Alex Morgan’s Orlando Pride team-mates helped Tottenham pull off shock transfer

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      KAREN HILLS revealed Alex Morgan’s Orlando Pride pals helped tempt the American superstar to sign with Tottenham.  
      The USA World Cup winner, 31, is set to make her debut against Arsenal in the FA Cup tomorrow, having recently signed for the North Londoners on a sensational loan-deal.

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      Alex Morgan’s former Orlando Pride team-mates played a role in her move to SpursCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Pride ace Shelina Zadorsky signed a short-term loan deal with the North Londoners in AugustCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      She has joined the familiar faces of her Pride team-mates Shelina Zadorsky and Alanna Kennedy who also penned short-term deals with the club ahead of this season.
      Spurs boss, Hills, said: “Speaking to Alex, there’s a connection with the club anyway. She’s got friends from Orlando in Shelina and Alanna.
      “Obviously, she’d spoken to them. There were a lot of positives around the club and the vibe, I think she got a really nice feel to that.
      “She was over here with the USA World Cup winning team and they trained here, there was a connection already with Tottenham.

      “We’re an up and coming team. It fitted for her at this moment in time. And coming here shows the ambition of Alex to take herself out her comfort zone,
      “And to come to another country to give herself the opportunity to again state that she’s one of the best forwards in the world.”
      Morgan agreed terms with Spurs in less than 48 hours and has been training with the North Londoners for the past week.
      If the strike sensation features against the Gunners, it would be her first competitive match in over a year, having given birth to her first child four months ago.

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      She is in search of regular minutes in a bid to win a place in the US squad for the delayed Tokyo Olympics.
      Hills added: “I think it’s a big statement for Alex, it obviously goes to show her mentality and how she’s been able to transfer from having the baby to getting herself back into amazing shape,
      “To then travel to London, and become part of what we’re doing at the moment. It all seemed to fit at the right moment for her.”
      Arsenal’s aces are relishing the chance of going toe to toe with Morgan as the prepare to host Spurs at Borehamwood.
      Boss Joe Montemurro said: “We get to play against top players so from our perspective it only adds to the growth and the great league that the WSL is.
      “From our perspective there’s no player that has been singled out or anything, we’re going to go about it our way and play our football and see if these players adhere to the level that we bring out to them.”

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      Emile Heskey revels in new role ahead of Leicester’s clash with Man City

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      EMILE HESKEY says he is loving the “family” vibe of being back at Leicester.
      And the Foxes icon paid tribute to the club this week after sharing his delight at becoming their first women’s football ambassador.

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      Emile Heskey, who is Leicester City’s women’s football ambassador, says he has always ‘gravitated’ back to the clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The former Liverpool star said: “I represented a lot of clubs but I always gravitated back to Leicester.
      “I was born and raised here, I played here and when I left to play for other clubs, they never really had the same feeling in terms of a family environment.
      “We did everything together and you saw that with the men’s team — and you are seeing that with the women, too.

      “About 15 years ago, my friend was a coach and asked me to talk to the women’s team. I gave a speech and fast forward to now and I’m back.”
      Heskey, 42, enjoyed a stellar 18-year career in the Premier League making 516 appearances including 124 at Leicester.

      “Women’s football has always been there, but it hasn’t really been pushed
      Emile Heskey

      The former Anfield frontman, who played in this year’s Soccer Aid alongside ex-Arsenal ace Kelly Smith, says he has been a long-term admirer of the women’s game.
      And while the Leicester-born forward praised Ian Wright for encouraging more fans to follow the sport, he believes Smith and figures like Brighton boss Hope Powell, should get more recognition.

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      Emile Heskey will be mentoring members of Leicester City’s women’s team as part of his new role at the clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Heskey added: “Women’s football has always been there, but it hasn’t really been pushed.
      ‘’I remember Doncaster Belles and I played in Soccer Aid with Kelly Smith and you realise how good they actually are.
      “It’s great to have Ian Wright and myself helping, but there are a lot of people who have done far more than we have.

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      Heskey believes players like ex-England playmaker Kelly Smith deserve greater recognition for their contribution to women’s footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “Hope Powell is one of the reasons I started watching the national team.”
      In his new role, the 62-cap Three Lions striker, 43, will offer coaching advice to the Foxes’ women’s squad as well as mentoring their players.
      Leicester, second in the Championship, face WSL juggernauts Manchester City in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

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