rewrite this title Lauren Hemp: Gareth Taylor provides fitness update on star forward

Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor is uncertain about Lauren Hemp’s availability for Saturday’s Women’s Super League (WSL) game against Chelsea.

Hemp was missing from the action as Man City defeatedHammarby 2-0 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Tuesday night.

Taylor has since confirmed that the club are concerned with a “knee issue” that the forward sustained in the team’s WSL meeting with Crystal Palace a fortnight ago.

“We know that it’s just a knee issue which I think the action happened against Palace,” he said. “At the time she didn’t think it was anything too much.”

Hemp put on a stellar display just days later against Tottenham Hotspur, a game in which City stormed home to a 4-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

“She played in that game with no kind of major issues, apart from a slight niggle,” said Taylor. “We had to manage her load since that that game, that took her out of the Hammarby game.”

However, the Cityzens’ head coach said there is still a chance she could play in the decisive game against Chelsea. I think there’s a chance tomorrow that she could train and play at the weekend,” he said. “So that’s good, but we will take that decision with the medical staff and Lauren tomorrow.”

Considering the firing form she has found herself in, the club will be eager to have Hemp take part in this weekend’s match at Stamford Bridge. The England star was awarded as October’s WSL Player of the Month, all before recording three assists against Tottenham last Friday night.

“Of course you want to see Hempo in these games she’s obviously a top, top player for us,” said Taylor. ” It is really tough as a coach, because you know that quality is goes without saying, but I have to give great credit to the players who stepped in. They really stood up to the task of a physical game against Hammarby and for us to have nine points after three games is really positive.”

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