Taylor gives update on availability of Oyama and Shaw | OneFootball

Gareth Taylor says that new signing Aemu Oyama is in contention to start our Women’s League Cup quarter-final derby clash away to Manchester United.

However, the game is likely to come to soon for Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw from injury as the City striker works her way back to fitness.

Japanese midfielder Oyama joined City earlier this week and was on the bench for the Women’s Super League defeat at the Etihad.

The City boss says he is monitoring the 20-year-old as she had a busy schedule with former club Tokyo Verdy Beleza shortly before moving to the Blues.

“She's in contention, of course she was on the bench at the weekend,” Taylor said.

“We’ve not had many opportunities for training sessions with her yet and she’s come back from a tournament with her previous team which finished in the later part of December so it’s difficult in terms of her load issue so we need to make sure she’s in the right space before we’re able to use her.

“Sunday was a bit rushed in terms of trying to get her to be available on the bench.

“She’s a young player joining a new club with a different training programme so we just need to make sure we manage it in the right way.”

WSL leading scorer Shaw has not played since early December but could be back for Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.

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“At the moment no [to playing against United], but probably for the weekend against Villa which is a positive,” Taylor added.

“Bunny has been a big loss for us, she has a huge impact on the team. Viv [Miedemia] did really well coming in on Sunday as an attacking threat, so once we get Bunny back it'll help Viv and the rest of us with the options we have at the top end of the pitch.”

Winger Chloe Kelly is also a doubt and Taylor said the squad is nursing a few niggles from the weekend’s derby.

“A few bumps and bruises, it was quite a physical game,” he said. “I think everyone pretty much came through.

“I’m not sure if Chloe will be available, we'll find out after training in the next couple of hours or so but unlikely to be available.

“And of course we have to make sure we manage a couple of others in the right way due to players still returning from injury and managing three games in six days.”