‘The reality is we played three games in six days and some players haven’t been back on the grass today because they haven’t fully recovered. We’re going to give them the maximum amount of time tomorrow to do that.
‘I don’t think Beth [England] will be back, Magda [Eriksson] won’t be back in this block either, no Maren [Mjelde]. But I’m so happy with the group, they’ve done so well! I don’t battle against the things I can’t control.’
Hayes also provided a fitness update on Lauren James, the former Manchester United forward.
‘This is the best she’s been all-round since she’s come to the club, in terms of her whole well-being and health. When you’ve been out the length of time she has and not played the minutes she’s had over the last three years, we’re taking it slowly with integrating her back into that. Unfortunately she was out of training today because she’s had a cold.’
Hayes has been full of praise for the Blues fans in recent weeks and is excited to welcome them to Kingsmeadow tomorrow evening.