Summer signing excited for campaign to get underway and eager to test herself in the upper echelons of women’s football

Ashleigh Neville believes Tottenham Hotspur Ladies are ready to showcase their prowess in the top flight of the women’s game.

The attacking full-back feels there is high expectations surrounding the newly-promoted Women’s Super League 2 outfit.

Fellow new additions Sarah Wiltshire, Lauren Pickett, Hannah MacKenzie and Ryah Vyse were in full view at the weekend, as Karen Hills’ Lilywhites fired seven past Reading Development.

With the new campaign getting underway on September 24 with Spurs away to Durham Women, Neville can’t wait to get going, she said: “Being new to the league, our expectations are to challenge ourselves.

“We have a great team and some of the football we play is outstanding. We’re pushing as much as we can to make sure we aren’t pushed aside, and we stand up and show others that we are more than capable of competing at this level!

“It’s a moment I’ve been waiting for and for ages to be fair because it’s where I’ve always wanted to be.”

The versatile Neville has been pleased with Spurs’ pre-season to date and feels partnerships are already developing all over the pitch.

She continued: “It has been going really well, so I think we are finally all settled in and performing well together.

“Our finishing has been on point the last two games. The girls have taken their chances really well – some really good finishes produced.

“Jenna (Schillaci) has been amazing at centre back, she’s been very vocal with me and helped me settle in well. We have a very strong back four, and hoping not to concede many goals this season.”

Neville also admitted she is more than happy to play wherever required by Hills, adding: “I‘m happy to play wherever really – left back, left wing, going forward, as I love getting up and down but I’m happy to play on the right as well.

“It’s nice to be able to get my right foot onto crosses, but then also being on the left side to get on the end of crosses.

“Our playing style suits my position. It enables me to get higher up the pitch and help the top three going forward, but also to track back and help the back four.”