‘The first night where I’ve felt like myself again’ – Fowler delighted after helping Man City beat Aston Villa

Mary Fowler says she finally feels like herself again following her comeback from an ACL injury after scoring in Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

The Australia international has been working her way back to her best since returning from the long-term injury and admitted she had not previously felt fully comfortable on the pitch.

But Fowler believes her performance against Villa marked a significant step forward in her recovery.

“I’ve been saying in a lot of interviews that I don’t feel fully myself yet since the ACL and I was giving myself the time to feel that,” she said.

“And I think tonight is the first night where I actually feel a lot more myself, which is a good feeling.”

Fowler believes improving her fitness has been key to rediscovering the instinctive qualities in her game.

“I think I’m such an instinctual kind of player and I think fitness is probably part of that as well,” she explained.

“I love to problem solve out on the field and I think if my fitness isn’t up there then my thinking is slower.

“But I feel like things are aligning now and it’s getting to a place now where I can just enjoy my football.

“I think mostly it’s a feeling thing. Feeling like myself out there, so it’s nice to have that back.”