After a long road back from injury, Brenna Lovera is shining just when Glasgow City need her most.
This has been a comeback season for the ages for the American forward. With 17 goals and five assists to her name in the Scottish Women's Premier League, she has been in impressive form this campaign.
Her most recent goal-scoring exploits came in Sunday’s 3-1 win against Celtic at Petershill Park, as she scored our third and assisted Nicole Kozlova for the second.
The win keeps second-placed City within touching distance of leaders Hibernian, who sit three points clear at the top ahead of the two sides meeting this weekend at Meadowbank.
But, on a personal note, to be contributing like she has done throughout the campaign is something of a triumph for Lovera.
It was only in early September 2024 when the 28-year-old forward returned to action following a gruelling nine-month absence due to a ruptured Achilles.
And after sustaining such a serious injury and experiencing a long lay-off, it is understandable that Lovera was nervous about the player who might return to the pitch.
But, her first goals of the season arrived in late October – a brace against Dundee United – and she has rarely been off the scoresheet since. Such form is a testament to the player our No.9 is.
“I’m just really grateful to be playing after rupturing the Achilles,” Lovera said. “Rehabbing from that was probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I still get a little emotional talking about it.
“To be on the field doing what I love with people that I love, it just feels really special.
“Regardless of getting goals or assists, I just feel really happy to be here and to be able to step out onto the field.
“I feel like I really struggled when I first came back. It took time for me to find my feet, so to be here now and helping the team in whatever way I can, I'm so happy.”
With City very much still in the title race, Lovera hopes to keep contributing in our remaining three league games. If this season ends in silverware, it will be written in the forward’s comeback story.
“The title would mean pretty much everything,” she explained. “It would mean a lot to know that the hard days were definitely worth it.
“They were worth it now, just getting to play, but the title would definitely be the cherry on top of what was a brutal nine months.”
Lovera’s next opportunity to perform for City will be in Sunday’s clash against the Hibees. And following our win against Celtic, there is no question of the good feeling amongst our camp.
“We have put pressure on the other teams to perform now,” Lovera said. “We know that if we come out and do our job to the standard we know we can, then we will get the three points.
“There are only three games left. A lot of the focus is on recovering and being ready to go again because the games are coming around fast.
“We stick together. We have the belief in the locker room, and we will continue to keep pushing each other until the very end.”
Make sure you are at Meadowbank to support Brenna and the squad when we face Hibs by getting your ticket here. And we need your backing in our final game at Petershill Park against Hearts on 18th May - get your ticket for the Peasy here.