Murray Provides Injury Update

Head Coach Joelle Murray has provided a fitness update on her squad ahead of this week's trip to Petershill Park.

Hibs Women will take on league leaders Glasgow City this Wednesday (1 April), seeking to extend their unbeaten league run against Leanne Ross' side to six matches.

Centre-forwards Kathleen McGovern, who was substituted early versus Hearts due to injury, and Eilidh Adams, who missed the Edinburgh Derby due to illness, are both fit to face City.

Club Captain Rachael Boyle and Vice-Captain Ellis Notley are also in contention after recovering from individual setbacks, though Murray informed Hibs TV that both Linzi Taylor and Kirsten Reilly are set to miss out. 

"I think the squad as a whole is looking fairly healthy. Obviously on the back of that three-game week, which is always a difficult week physically and mentally, we picked up a couple of injuries.

"Obviously the most significant one is Linzi Taylor, with her ACL; everyone at the Club was devastated for her. But she's a strong character. She's already ticking off the small wins and embracing the journey ahead. 

"And you've got Kirsten Reilly as well, who picked up a calf injury, potentially a consequence of a tackle in the Celtic game. Those are the two players that at the moment are looking mid-to-longer term."

With four of six potential absentees now fit and available, a fascinating clash awaits this midweek. 

We are currently unbeaten in six in the league, but the hosts are also in very high spirits following their Sky Sports Cup Final triumph over Rangers at the weekend. 

That said, Murray believes the encounter will be one for the entire team to "relish" and expects another memorable meeting between the two sides out west.

"These are the games that as players, as staff, we look forward to and we relish. Fixtures between the two clubs have always been extremely competitive and I've no doubt that Wednesday night will be the same.

"They're on the back of a very good cup win on Sunday, but we're on a very good run in the league ourselves.

"It’s two form teams going into the game and one that for the neutral, I would imagine, as always, will be a very enjoyable and exciting."

Looking further momentarily, Murray touched on the "excellent" international recognition our current squad are receiving - with nine players currently called up to represent their respective nations across the April international break. 

"It's excellent as a club, that's what you want your players to do," she said. "Domestic duty is obviously your bread and butter as a player. But if you play well domestically for your club, you always want to get that international recognition.

"And I think you can see across the A Squads, Under-23s and Under-19s, we've got fantastic representation.

"We probably, in my opinion, could have had more; Tiree Burchill has shown enough just recently that she, in my opinion, should have deserved that Under-23s inclusion.

"But these are the setbacks as a player you need to take. It's part and parcel in the game. And she's got the resilience to take that knock and come back better and show that she's got the quality, the strength to push for the next camp."