Naomi Layzell boosts Man City ahead of Champions League tie with Barcelona

Injury-hit Manchester City have Naomi Layzell back available for Wednesday’s Women’s Champions League match at Barcelona.

The 20-year-old defender, signed from Bristol City during the summer, made an impressive impact when the sides met in their Group D opener at the Joie Stadium in October.

City’s 2-0 win over the holders saw Layzell score one goal and set up a second, finished by Khadija Shaw.

She subsequently sustained an injury late in the game that has kept her sidelined since, but could now return to action when the teams face off again at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

City boss Gareth Taylor told a press conference: “It’s quite a quick turnaround in terms of timing for the recovery (from Sunday’s 2-1 Women’s Super League loss at Everton). Players were back out on the pitch today after the recovery session.

“In a sense of where are we in terms of players coming back into it, we’re pretty much as we were with the addition of Naomi Layzell into the squad.

“We’ve not seen her since (the Barcelona game) which obviously is a frustration for us and for her as well. (She is) new to the club and to us in terms of how we do things but (has) shown on that occasion what an exciting talent she is.”

Taylor currently has the likes of Shaw, Lauren Hemp, Vivianne Miedema and skipper Alex Greenwood out due to injury.

While they suffered the shock league loss on Merseyside at the weekend, City head into Wednesday’s final group fixture with five wins from five as they look to seal top spot ahead of Barca, who have 12 points.

Meanwhile, the club have announced right-back Kerstin Casparij has signed a new two-year contract running to 2027.