Taylor provides fitness update ahead of Ipswich tie | OneFootball

Gareth Taylor says Vivianne Miedema is again available for selection for Manchester City following the winter break.

The Netherlands striker has been absent since our 2-0 victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Women’s Champions League at the Joie Stadium in October.

Following the memorable triumph, the Barclays Women’s Super League’s all-time scorer underwent successful surgery on her left knee before completing a rehabilitation programme ahead of our warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.

Now, Taylor says she’s an option for City ahead of our FA Cup clash with Ipswich on Sunday, but reaffirmed his desire to ease her back into action.

“We have Viv back which is a real positive,” he said.

“We are not going to be able to go straight back into it with her. We will have to build her back up.

“To have her back is fantastic because we know what a top player she is. Just by being out there she helps other players perform even better.

“She gives that time and space to others as well as being quality in herself.

"We will see her [against Ipswich]. That’s really good."

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Joining Miedema and the rest of City’s squad in Abu Dhabi was a number of players who missed our final matches of 2024 through injury, including Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Lauren Hemp, Risa Shimizu and Tara O’Hanlon.

There they continued their individual recovery schedules as we approach the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

And Taylor believes having them with the group enriched the trip and stated his hope that Shaw will return to the field soon.

He added: “Some other players will be slightly longer. Maybe Bunny. Obviously Lauren and Alex [Greenwood] as well.

“Bunny was with us last week, she was training separately. From what I saw she looks really good.

“Hopefully she can be back sooner rather than later. Similar to what we say with Lauren and Alex, they are really important.

“The injured players travelled with us so was good to get time with them.”

Before the curtain fell on 2024, City captain Alex Greenwood underwent successful surgery on a Medial Collateral Ligament injury after coming off in our 2-0 win over St Polten in December.

And Taylor provided an update on the England international in his pre-Ipswich press conference.

“Alex was in a lot of pain after her operation and she was really frustrated at that point,” he concluded.

“We were hoping it wasn’t going to be too severe and it could have been a lot worse. The surgery was really successful.

“She is a huge influence on the pitch and big off it. She is a great team player and brilliant captain.”