Women's

Proven goalscorer the priority in our recruitment, says Powell

Hope Powell has identified the need to try add to their options in attack as she looks ahead to the new Women’s Super League campaign.

By Bruce Talbot • 28 May 2020

By Kyle Hemsley
Aileen Whelan was top scorer for Albion in the 2019-20 WSL campaign.

This season was curtailed earlier this week because of the coronavirus crisis with a method to work out the final league positions in the Women's Super League and Championship still to be finalised.

But head coach Powell already has an eye on next season – Albion’s third at this level – and adding to her team’s firepower is a priority.

She said: “An out and out goalscorer are hard to come by but that would be nice because it’s where we have really struggled.

“We created the chances and we need someone to consistently convert. We did a lot of work to tighten up at the back and we are getting there and we have brought in some decent players in that respect so it is really about converting chances.

“We are continuously looking. This is an important time in terms of recruitment [for next season] and a striker is the one everybody is trying to get.”

Albion defender Fliss Gibbons.

Aileen Whelan was top scorer with five WSL goals when the season was curtailed, and Powell picked out her and defender Fliss Gibbons as the standout performers.

She added: “I am quite demanding and all the players work really hard to meet expectations.

“Aileen Whelan was our top goal scorer who played in numerous positions and is happy to play wherever the team needs her. She has been fantastic. And Fliss Gibbons, in terms of her development over the last two seasons, has become a real leader on the pitch.”