Freeman out to build on senior bow | OneFootball

Freeman, who joined the club's under-21 side in the summer after a spell at Manchester United Women's academy, has been training with the Lasses after impressing for Courtney Vacher's side.

The central midfielder, who's been named in every Subway League Cup matchday squad as well as the opening day of the WSL2 season against Nottingham Forest Women, is not letting herself get distracted after a special afternoon.

"It was an amazing feeling," Freeman admitted post-match with a wide grin on her face. "I think it just proves that all of the hard work I've been putting in over the past few weeks is paying off."

Coming on against a Women's Super League outfit in Everton Women, Freeman may have been excused for feeling nervous or starry-eyed.

But the teenager added: "I wanted to make sure I was doing my bit for the team, so while I was excited to get on the pitch and show everyone what I can do, I was just focusing on doing the basics right.

"Now, I know it's all about going back into training and continuing to build on this because I know there is a lot more to do, and if I keep working hard, then more opportunities will come."

With United now having a Professional Games Academy (PGA), it allows the club's under-21s to challenge themselves against some of the best academies in the country, as well as training in a professional environment.

Therefore, pathways into the first team could be more accessible if players like Freeman are now more accustomed to the demands of daily training sessions, and the young midfielder is proof of the opportunities that are available at the club.

"It's been really good (training with the first team) and a good challenge for me, and one that I think I needed to be able to take that next step in my career, and I've loved getting to go up against the girls every day in training," she said.

"Knowing that these kinds of opportunities are potentially going to come your way, it does make you push that little bit harder because you want them to keep coming.

"So, I'm always going to be giving that little bit extra effort in training and hopefully I'll get on the pitch more in the future."

Following the appointment of Tanya Oxtoby last week, United's number 56 is looking to build on her first team debut. "It's now all about continuing to make a good impression in training," she said. "I want to keep working hard, impressing the coaches and impressing my teammates."