Fit-again Fox focused on future | OneFootball

Fox, who joined Newcastle United Women in the summer from Chelsea Women on a season-long loan, was given the nod by Becky Langley to start against Nottingham Forest Women last Wednesday, allowing her to experience 'the best feeling' for the first time in over two years.

United's number 29 played 75 minutes and was a constant threat down the right against Forest during her first start, which should come as no surprise given the confidence she has in her body following a tough two years.

"It was a night I had been waiting for, for over two years," Fox told newcastleunited.com, unable to hide her smile as she reflected on reaching a major milestone.

"I've put in a lot of hard work, a lot of hours behind the scenes that nobody sees, but it was all worth it to get back playing football again because it's the best feeling.

"I was so excited to show everyone what I can do on the pitch and be back out there, so when Becky told me I would be starting, I was so happy.

"Going into the game, I wasn't nervous, just excited and wanted to get touches of the ball in the first 20 minutes, and I think I grew into the game. I know it'll take a couple more matches to get back to where I think I should be, but for now, I'm just happy to be back."

Still only 22 years of age, Fox has a wealth of experience under her belt, albeit not all positive.

On May 7th, 2023, just before half time at Crawley's Broadfield Stadium, while playing for Brighton & Hove Albion Women on loan, Fox was substituted with a knee injury. Four days later, it was confirmed that she'd injured her ACL and would spend an extended spell out of action.

After more than a year on the sidelines, Fox was ready to regain her form and fitness with another loan spell, this time at Crystal Palace Women - before her world went 'numb' when she suffered a reoccurrence of the injury.

"I couldn't really believe it when it happened," Fox said. "It took me over a year to recover from my first injury, and I had worked so hard.

"I remember feeling confident in my physicality when I was with Palace and felt like I was ready to go - and I do still think I was fine at the time, and it was just a lot of bad luck.

"It was just like a numb feeling when it happened again, and I don't think it actually ever sank in and still probably hasn't to this day.

"I do feel like I was quite lucky the second time around, as I was surrounded by my family and was with the club that I'd been at since I was eight years old, so that was huge for me and my recovery."

ACL injuries are unfortunately common in the women's game, with females being four to six times more at risk of the injury than their male counterparts.

Having gone over two years without playing a competitive match, Fox may have been excused for having fallen out of love with the game or lost a little bit of her spark, but the young defender emphatically said giving up was never an option.

"Leaving football never crossed my mind after either injury, and I knew that with how the game has progressed and modern medicine and rehabs, I couldn't give up," she said.

"There have been plenty of players that have had this same injury and some who've suffered back-to-back ACL injuries, so I knew it was possible to come back and that certainly gave me motivation during my time out."

Due to being in a football environment from such a young age, Fox had become engrossed in the sport, which often determined her mood away from the pitch, but spending time off the grass saw her appreciate a different side of life.

"I certainly have a different mindset to both football and life in general since I first got injured," she added. "Up until that point, when I got injured at Brighton, football was my life.

"I often let it control how happy I was outside of football, but now I'm able to put stuff in perspective a lot better, which I think is good both on and off the pitch.

"My whole life, football has been what I'm good at, and it's been a way to show who I am and what I can do, and ultimately, I missed that feeling and can't wait to get a bit of my flair back."

The England youth international now has two appearances in black and white under her belt, but with a full season and three competitions for United to be playing in, Fox knows she's only going to get better as the games go by.

Now she wants to get back to enjoying her football and having a smile on her face.

"I'm really excited for the rest of the season and to see what we can achieve together, and hopefully I'll continue to get more minutes and games moving forward," she said.

"My main goal now, though, is to be enjoying my football and life off the pitch and making sure that I stay healthy on the pitch and smiling whenever I'm out there."