'Fresh focus and energy' - Smith.

Coventry United are the visitors to the West Country for a 3pm kick-off as the Robins High Performance Centre plays host to the first City Women fixture of 2023.

Thirty-five days have passed since the Reds’ last competitive outing and the City Head Coach insists the squad are ready to get back to ‘what they live for.’

“It feels like it has been a long month,” said Smith. “The group are excited, they’re flying, and you can see in training that they need to be back on that pitch.

“We had a break that was needed but we live for games, right – we’re very much looking forward to Sunday.

“The players have come back recharged and reenergised, ready to push on this half of the season.”

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Smith will be boosted by the availability of two January loanees with Gracie Pearse and Grace Clinton available to make their debuts.

“It’s been great to add to the squad in January. We’re really pleased with how everyone has performed over the first half of the season; it was more about adding some more depth," said Smith.

“Gracie Pearse joins us as a centre-back with WSL experience having trained with Tottenham for the last six months, and we know her from when we played Crystal Palace last year where she was on loan.

“She can play off both feet giving us some fluidity as well as depth at the back for the second half of the season.

“We’re also really pleased to bring in Grace Clinton on loan from Manchester United. She’s an exciting, young player who will feed off the players and quality we already have in our attacking options.

“Looking at how we play as well, I think it’ll really benefit those two players so they can progress while also helping us progress as a team."

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The Robins High Performance Centre plays host to a thrilling January triple-header, kicking off with Coventry United on Sunday, January 15th (3pm).

Lauren Smith's side will then welcome league leaders London City Lionesses (January 22nd, 3pm) followed by Oxford United in the Vitality Women's FA Cup (January 29th, 3pm).