Galton: We'll need to be smart against Villa

Our no.11 enjoyed a fine campaign for Marc Skinner's side in 2022/23 with 12 goals across all competitions, playing a pivotal role in our second-place WSL finish and in the Reds reaching the FA Cup final. 

The focus now switches to Villa Park where our new campaign begins this weekend, and in an interview with club media, the 29-year-old expressed her desire for United to make a positive start, but is expecting a tough game. 

Galton also revealed which two players from the home side she thinks could provide a particular threat on Sunday, one of which is a former Red.

"I think it's a great test for us for the first game, definitely like you say, not an easy game," the winger said of Sunday's opponents.

"Kirky's [Kirsty Hanson] there now, she's gone back to Villa and she's a threat, she's a great player.

"You've got Rach [Rachel Daly] who scored a lot of goals for them last year, so we're going to have be smart with who we look at and how we play against them, but it will be a very good test for us."

Daly was the leading goalscorer in the WSL last season, as the England international netted 22 goals in the top flight. 

Attention in the United camp is currently on Sunday's season opener in the Midlands, but once the full-time whistle goes at Villa Park on Sunday, the focus will begin to turn to our first home game of 2023/24, which takes place on the following Friday (6 October).

Arsenal are the visitors to Leigh Sports Village for a blockbuster clash, which Leah also shared her thoughts on while speaking to club media before the new campaign.

"It's hard as well because last year we did well against Arsenal - we beat them both times we played them," she explained.

"So you can kind of hold yourself to that standard and want to beat them again, obviously.

"It will be a good game for the fans and especially [because it is the] first game at Leigh Sports Village."

Aston Villa and Arsenal will be the first of two strong tests for the Reds this season in what is set to be another highly competitive Women's Super League term.

Galton reiterates that focusing on what we can do to have maximum impact in every match will be of paramount importance, if we are to have another successful campaign in the division.

"I don't even think in this league there's a bad team. You can go anywhere in this league and have a really challenging game.

"So I think for us, it's [important] just to focus every game, no matter who it is. Take the opponent out of the picture and make sure we're putting in the work on the pitch."