Grace Fisk interview: Injury return, Villa Park excitement and Missy ...

Last season’s Players’ Player of the Year returned off the bench following an ankle issue as the Reds drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace immediately before the October international break.

Matt Beard’s team face Aston Villa away this weekend (4.30pm GMT kick-off) as the Barclays Women’s Super League season resumes.

Heading into this round of fixtures, Liverpool sit sixth in the table, while Villa – now the home of former Reds midfielder Missy Bo Kearns – are 10th.

Read our preview interview with Fisk below...

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On how happy she is to have returned to action…

I’m really excited and glad to be back. I’ve missed training with the girls and it’s been quite a long time so I’m really enjoying being back with everyone and getting into the swing of it. It was really nice to get my first minutes of the season against Crystal Palace under my belt. I wish I could have contributed more to the result but it was just nice to be back and to stretch the legs again.

On the injury…

I missed most of pre-season. In training I rolled my ankle in a weird way so I damaged a ligament which took a lot longer, so I missed the pre-season and the opening games. I’m playing catch-up now and trying to get my pre-season in, training hard and trying to get up to scratch with the girls.

On there being plenty of positives for Liverpool to take from their start to the season...

Definitely. Obviously I’ve been watching a lot and it’s been very nerve-wracking! I would much rather be on the pitch, but it’s one that we could have picked up a few points but we could have lost them as well. Overall I think everyone knows the WSL is just getting stronger each season. No game is going to be a guaranteed three points so I think the league is very much open still. If you look at the table it’s all quite close still so a lot to play for.

On how the summer arrivals are settling in and training with Cornelia Kapocs during the international break…

There has only been a few us of us here during the international break but it has been nice to get to know Kappy a bit more. She is really good and I’d like to think she is really comfortable now with everyone and she has contributed, the same as Liv [Olivia Smith] and Gemma [Evans], really well.

On Sunday’s trip to Villa Park…

It’ll be my first time ever at Villa Park, which is really exciting, and it’s really nice to play at the men’s stadium. Both teams will be looking to get a result and we both feel we could have picked up more points than we have so far, so I think it will be a really competitive contest. Hopefully there will be a big crowd. It’s exciting and we are looking forward to the game first and foremost, and hopefully we get three points.

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On scoring her first goal for the club against Villa last season...

Yes, and what a screamer it was! [Laughs] Obviously it was nice to get my first and only goal so far, so good memories. It was a good win that day so hopefully we can get something similar.

On a reunion with Kearns…

It will be nice see Bo, we miss her, but I think she is playing a lot there, which is really good for her, and she seems to be enjoying it. It will be nice to see her before the game but I’m sure once the whistle blows it will be battle ahead.

On a tricky upcoming run of matches…

The way the fixtures are there is a tough run of games coming up and we are definitely looking to get the three points on Sunday, put our authority on the game and start really strong. That’s what we are going for.

This article has been automatically translated and, while all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors in translation are possible. Please refer to the original English-language version of the article for the official version.