Hope Powell is delighted with the strength in depth of the squad she is building at Albion.
The head coach was able to introduce experienced players like Kayleigh Green and Fliss Gibbons from the bench when Albion kicked off the Barclays Women’s Super League season with a 2-0 win over West Ham United last Sunday.
And she says all her players must be ready to play as Albion try to compete in an increasingly competitive environment in the WSL.
“I think compared to some clubs we didn’t add a lot of players in the transfer window, but those we have brought in have definitely added value to the squad,” said Powell.
“We wanted more depth and we saw the evidence of that against West Ham when players like Kayleigh and Fliss came on.
“It’s a nice headache to have, although not so much for the players who don’t start. But we will need everyone over the course of the season as the demands of this league are getting greater and greater. Everyone will help us during the season, everyone has to be ready to play.”
Albion play their first away game of the season on Sunday against Birmingham City at St Andrew’s (2pm).
In contrast to Albion, the Blues have rung the changes during the summer by signing eight new players and appointing Scott Booth, the former Scotland striker and Glasgow City manager, as their new head coach.
“After losing to Spurs in their first game we know they will be up for the battle and we have to match that,” said Powell. “We’ve got some momentum after winning last week but we weren’t at our best, there were too many unforced errors. But the three points have given us lots to build on. We need to move the ball quicker and slicker and if we do that then we are capable of going to St Andrew’s and getting a result.”