The Women’s Super League has attracted more overseas talent than ever before this season.
But closer to home, Albion head coach Hope Powell remains committed to developing English talent too.
Maya Le Tissier and Katie Robinson are two such players and both played their part last Sunday when the Seagulls kicked off the campaign with a 2-0 win over Birmingham City.
Powell’s players face a step up today when they travel to last season’s runners-up Manchester City, who added England pair Alex Greenwood and Lucy Bronze to their star-studded squad this week.
Powell acknowledges that the flood of new signings from overseas will improve the overall quality of the league, although finances largely dictate that the cream of the crop end up at the top four: Chelsea, City, Arsenal and Manchester United.
She said, “This is no disrespect to the American League but it’s been curtailed, so those players want to come over and play, then players in Europe want to come over. But if you flood the league with foreign players, the danger is are we giving the opportunity for young English talent to play, especially with major tournaments not too far round the corner?
“We gave Maya [Le Tissier] her first professional contract and we also signed Katie [Robinson] and I am hoping that enough young talent sees that they might get more of an opportunity and play at clubs which haven’t got as big a brand or as big a name.”
City will present a tough test for Albion, but they have headed to Manchester in good spirits after an excellent start to the season.
Powell added, “We know what we’re up against but we will just get on with it. What choice do we have?
“We worked hard last Sunday, didn’t concede and scored two really good goals. The manner in which we worked together, if we can take that into Sunday we give ourselves a chance.”