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Albion ahead of WSL season: Vidosic on squad, international stars and injuries

The Seagulls won a pair of friendlies and welcomed Michelle Agyemang back to the ranks while at the Pinatar Centre.

They have seen a host of players leave this summer, including experienced campaigners in captain Vicky Losada, Nikita Parris, Pauline Bremer, Guro Bergsvand and Maria Thorisdottir.

Signings include WAFCON winner Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal and Japan defender Moeka Minami.

Madison Haley is back to full fitness after injury last term and was prominent in wins over Alhama and Levante.

But defenders Manuela Vanegas and Maelys Mpome are still working their way back to full fitness, as is on-loan forward Rosa Kafaji.

Albion boss Vidosic said: “We've had a good start before even coming to Spain.

“Now it's been nice to bring the squad here and we've got a few new inclusions.

“So it has been good for the group as well to be together.

“We spend some time now where we can analyse, we can talk through stuff more for what we're trying to prepare for the season.

“We’re hoping to welcome a couple more of the girls back into full training so it has been positive.”

Vidosic said the absentees are making progress.

He added: “They are just rehabbing. Manuela suffered an ACL injury in February.

“Maelys has also been injured and recovering.

"Rosa, similar, had surgery. She's just there now at the back end of her rehab so she has been introduced to a couple of sessions now.

“But Manuela is still a little bit from joining us. And Maelys is similar.”

Albion came a best-ever fifth last term but there will be a sense of going into the unknown given the changes in the summer.

They kick-off the campaign at home to Aston Villa a week on Sunday.

Vidosic said: “I think we've got a really good group and foundation from last season and it's a really good group of girls that have welcomed all the new ones in.

“So it's been fantastic and then Miche comes back, she knows everyone, so it's just straight in and she understands the girls in the group and ourselves.

“We are trying to work as quickly as we can so we can be the best version of ourselves in in round one.

“We've got a tough test and we have got to quickly get everything in order to be ready for that day.”

While much focus was on Agyemang and England in the Euros, Albion also followed Nnadozie to success with Nigeria in WAFCON and Jorelyn Carabali to the final of the Copa Libertadores with Colombia.

Vidosic said: “I was always in talks with Jory and managed to get to Morocco to see Chiamaka.

“We were constantly in talks and just saying all the best, trying to watch the games wherever they were available.

“I watched the two finals and tried to find the other games. They were difficult to find!

“We were really hoping, after Chiamaka winning AFCON, that that Jory would also come back as a champion.

“But I think they should be extremely proud of what they have done for their national teams and they will both play a big part now for us as well in our journey for this season.”

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