Ahead of this weekend's Manchester derby, MEN Sport sat down with Manchester City star Esme Morgan to discuss her return to the squad from injury.
After breaking her leg early into last year’s campaign, Morgan has demonstrated versatility at the top tier at a young age operating in multiple roles for Gareth Taylor’s side this season.
She told MEN Sport: “I just enjoyed being on the pitch, I think last season being out injured for the whole year. I would have taken anywhere to be honest because I just missed it so much.
“Well, I'd be concerned about the circumstances that would get us to that point. But I suppose if I needed to then I would, to be fair,” she said in jest to considering a role as goalkeeper.
“I feel like I've had this conversation with Gareth and he said the only two positions he wouldn't play me would be as a striker and in goal. And I thought I can't even argue, my scoring record is not great,” Morgan added laughing.
The 22-year-old has spent time as a centre back, full-back and also pushed forward into that number four role in midfield: “Wherever I am, I'm pleased to be on the pitch and Gareth always says that one of the attributes the values in me is my versatility.
“But I quite like the full-back role that we have where we come into midfield because we get to do things a little bit different, being a bit more advanced and attacking.”
Considered a leader in the changing room, Morgan oozes team spirit and determination from the get-to of the 2022/23 campaign. Her energy and smile are contagious despite having come from a difficult start to the year: “I just wanted to establish myself as a regular starter in the team and get more consistent minutes and I feel as though I have done that. So I'm really, really pleased about that.
“And once I felt like that was the case, I was back to my best, if not better than I was before. Then I really set my sights on England and getting involved in that setup and hopefully making the World Cup squad, having missed out on the Euros last year.”
Morgan was included in the latest round of international friendlies, the Finalissima and the Alzheimer’s Society charity game against Australia, “I've obviously loved having the experience with England and everything” she added.
But for the club there has been a real turnaround for the defender, with 13 starts in 15 games under Taylor this year on her return from injury: “The season before I'd kind of been a bit part-player, filling in when people were injured, but I had the goal to kind of just find my feet, settle, be consistent with training, not pick up too many niggles. Obviously coming off the back of not playing for a year. That's kind of to be expected,” said Morgan alluding to her Achilles flare-up earlier in the year.
Now she has captained the Sky Blues against Everton and Reading - two wins in two games, “It was a big shock in those two games that I was captain, to be honest, I was really surprised. But I really really enjoyed it and it was proud for my family to see as well.”
United host City at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday, May 21 kicking off at 18:45 available to watch via Sky Sports or live audio commentary on the FA Player app.
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