The key player who could return for Brighton in League Cup clash with West Ham | OneFootball

Fran Kirby (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Brighton and Hove Albion boss Dario Vidosic has confirmed Fran Kirby has recovered from illness – and will be available for selection for Wednesday’s Subway Women’s League Cup match against West Ham United.

The former Lioness missed the weekend’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham – and the Australian admitted that he had had a “tough week” leading up to it, juggling his squad due to late withdrawals.

“Still plenty of positives, and we’re ready to get back into the League Cup,” he said in a sit-down interview ahead of the tie.

He confirmed that he would be looking to rotate his squad slightly, and would give some academy players the opportunity to be involved.

And despite Brighton’s 4-1 win over West Ham in the Women’s Super League last month, Vidosic does not necessarily expect the same scoreline as they travel to London for the cup.

“We’ll still try and play our brand of football, we know we have to take into account the opponent, we know they’re dangerous. You’re never too sure with the games midweek, which teams are rotating a little bit, especially with the heavy schedule throughout the week with the three games. It presents an opportunity for everyone, so players are naturally going to be really up for it that are staking their claims for the starting eleven.

“We expect a tough test. The last meeting means nothing. This is a completely different competition, brand-new game, so we have to be ready, and we’ve prepared as well as we can.”

Brighton boss Vidosic: West Ham will be dangerous

As for West Ham – currently bottom of the WSL with no points, but who won their opening cup match with a 5-1 win over Charlton Athletic, which Vidosic described as “a terrific result” – he anticipates they will be a dangerous opponent.

“I think they’ve been a little bit unlucky, I don’t think it fairly reflects where they’ve been. I’ve watched a lot of their games, especially before our first meeting, and they have just been a little bit unlucky in terms of the result going against them. They’ve had good chances, just haven’t been able to put them away, and then would concede down the other end.

“They do possess a lot of dangerous players that can and will upset you if you’re not at your best.”

And even though Brighton go into the match off the back of a loss, Vidosic is extremely pleased with what he’s seen from his squad so far – and optimistic about what’s to come.

“We feel good. We’re still confident, there’s still a lot to be happy about, I think we’ve had a lot of good, solid performances this season, and I expect it should just get better and better. We’ve got a lot of young players that naturally as the season progresses will get better and better.

“It’s been positive and we feel like the ceiling is much higher for us.”