Man City player is latest victim of top-flight football's crass nature

We’ve talked about the three players for each Manchester club City and United who are impressing on the field after only a month of Women’s Super League action. But then there are folk who have fallen by the wayside, those who are yet to impress at the top-tier of English football this season, and then there's visceral disappointment.

An overwhelming cause for concern for players who have been royally, inexplicably, replaced. There's a poignant sense of making 'do' with what cards you have until something else comes along - to see all the action last campaign only to be destined to warm this bench this year, so it seems. And for City, this is ever apparent in the likes of Laura Coombs.

Cast your minds back to 12 months ago and imagine you have 33 top-flight league games under your belt, all within three seasons at City - You’re ready. You know what it takes, you’ve paid your dues and the time is now. The first year was spent learning the style of play but eventually, as the seasons go on you’re involved more and more, in at least half of the 22-league game season with a five-goal tally and four assists to boot… not bad!

Okay, a mass of players have abandoned ship and you’re chosen to plug the hold in the middle of the park next to newcomer Yui Hasegawa. Your partnership is a nice mix, balanced, one does the dirty work freeing the other to spray the ball and create quality connections. Of course, you can offer a lot too; shots from range, a never-say-die attitude and a canny abilty to harness strength and aggression into a perfectly-timed sliding tackle.

You feature in all 22 league games, net five goals and even get that golden phone call from the England Boss - you’re back on the England radar, after being cast aside