Lauren Hemp: Gareth Taylor provides injury update on Manchester City winger

Gareth Taylor described Lauren Hemp as 'close' to a return to action for Manchester City, with the winger having not featured since the first weekend of November due to a thigh injury.

Hemp last played for City on 6 November, where she had a hand in all three goals as her side ran out 3-0 winners over Reading. The following day she was forced to withdraw from the England squad for the November international break due to a thigh complaint sustained against the Royals.

The 22-year-old did not travel with England to Spain for the Lionesses' friendlies against Japan and Norway and returned to her club to receive treatment. She has sat out City's last two matches - the WSL victory over Everton, and Continental Cup against Sunderland - but Taylor has not yet ruled her out of returning against Brighton on Sunday.

"She's close," said Taylor. "Lauren's been back in training with us over the last couple of days. We'll give her another 24 hours to see where she's at. I think the temptation is obviously to want to have these players back - same with the likes Vicky [Losada].

"Just try and get these players a little bit closer. I think hopefully over this next period of games we might start to see a couple coming back but I think outside of that everyone's in fairly good shape."

Should Hemp be unavailable to face Brighton, she could make her return to action against Liverpool in the Continental Cup on Wednesday, or in City's mouth-watering final WSL match of 2022 against rivals Manchester United at the Etihad on Sunday 11 December.