George: I’ll always be thankful to Everton

George, who spent formative years in United’s Centre of Excellence as a young player, rejoined the club last summer from the Toffees, where her professional career began. 

The full-back enjoyed nearly a decade on the blue half of Merseyside and is set to be reunited with some familiar faces on Sunday, when United travel to Walton Hall Park for the 14:00 BST kick-off.

The two clubs met three times last season, but suffering a season-ending ACL injury just four games into our campaign ruled Gabby out of any immediate reunion, including the Reds’ 5-0 win at Sunday’s venue exactly a week later.

George is, however, in contention to feature this time around having made her long-awaited return in our campaign-opening triumph at Old Trafford last Saturday – and it’s something that she is very much looking forward to.

“I think I left just over a year ago now but obviously the injury came around, so I haven’t been back since,” the defender began, speaking to club media at Carrington this week.

“It will be nice to get out there, to see the girls and all the staff because I think that played a big part in my career and the player and the person that I am today. 

“I’ll always be thankful for the club but I think, on the day, we want the three points and that’s just how football goes.”

Featuring in our last outing was a huge personal milestone for Gabby, after nearly a year on the sidelines. 

Our no.3 is now hoping to build on that special comeback moment, starting against her old club this weekend.

“It was an overwhelming moment for me, when I was in rehab, all I wanted to do was play football, play matches and get back out there with the girls,” she added.

“It comes around, I’d say, so fast but everything’s a whirlwind. You achieve everything you’ve wanted to achieve, but it’s just about pushing on from there now because you get to that moment you dreamed of, but you always want more and that’s the stage that I’m at now.”