Freya Gregory could add missing link to Aston Villa Women after injury return
Aston Villa continued their stellar 2023 form with a penalty shootout win over West Ham in the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup, with Freya Gregory returning to the fray in added time after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Carla Ward’s side were made to work to get their name in the hat for the quarter-final draw – in which they pulled out a home tie against Manchester City – after Rachel Daly’s opener was levelled up in stoppage time, and the subsequent penalty shootout went all the way to sudden death.
Villa’s number one Hannah Hampton was eventually called upon from 12 yards, and after smashing home her penalty, she was on hand to help force the Irons’ keeper Mackenzie Arnold into a miss.
The win extended Aston Villa’s unbeaten run to four matches and solidified their status as ones to watch in the Women’s FA Cup.
The return of Gregory from the sidelines will now provide Ward with yet more attacking options to utilise in the coming months, and the winger could prove to be the final piece of the puzzle in attack if given a chance to shine.
Gregory, 29, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Leicester City, limped off with an ankle injury after 19 minutes of the club’s Conti Cup win over Sheffield United in December, and hasn’t featured since.
The England Under-23 international is a bright and skilful winger who has the technical ability to provide problems for any defence in the Women’s Super League. And considering the stuttering form of Alisha Lehmann on the right wing, she could be in the frame for a sizeable role in attack.
Lehmann, who has netted two goals and provided four assists in 20 appearances this season, hasn’t been at her fluent best in recent weeks and has been in and out of the side as a result. Laura Blindkilde Brown has been providing competition for the Swiss International despite favouring a central midfield role, but now Gregory will take waiting in the wings, ready for her chance.
Although Daly is in quite sumptuous form as Villa’s number nine this season, she mainly receives her chances from Kenza Dali in a central attacking midfield role – with ten assists – and Kirsty Hanson down the left flank, with six assists.
Per 90 minutes, Hanson has created 0.89 chances this season down the left flank compared to Lehmann’s 0.55 on the right, and Ward must be considering a change in personnel in attack. [BBC Sport]
Although Gregory might take a few weeks to work her way up to full fitness, the talented winger should be given a sustained opportunity to burst into life on the right-hand side of Villa’s attack.
In other Aston Villa news, this academy player could be the next star in waiting at Bodymoor Heath after back-to-back goals for the Under-23s.