Expectations are high that Reggae Girl Khadija “Bunny” Shaw will enjoy another successful campaign to help Manchester City in their push to possibly cop a silverware this season.
The 26-year-old is already off to a good start, as she scored her first goal of the new campaign in City’s 2-1 win over Everton in FA Women’s League Cup action on Wednesday.
With a goal coming in her first start of the season, Shaw is expected to again lead the attack when Manchester City kick start Women’s Super League (WSL) action against Bristol City at Academy Stadium on Sunday.
With City currently third in the Women’s Super League standings on four points, Shaw said the expectations of her is no added pressure.
“No. No pressure. I love scoring goals and I always want to do my best to help the team,” she told SportsMax.TV.
Manager Gareth Taylor hailed the Jamaican for the leading role she has played since joining the club in 2021.
“She’s such an influential and a player the team looks to in terms of setting off everything we do whether it be attacking or without the ball,” Taylor said.
“She brings so much with her personality and the quality she has. It’s fantastic to have her back and nice for her to get off the mark so early in the season,” he added.
Shaw bagged 31 goals in all competitions last season which earned her City’s Player-of-the-Season award, as the club finished fourth in the league.
She then endured a busy summer, turning out for Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the Caribbean side had an historic run to the round of 16 before bowing out to Colombia.
Shaw also featured in the Olympic qualifying playoff fixtures against Canada last month. She started in the home contest which the Girlz lost 0-2 but sat out the second leg encounter due to injury, as Canada won 2-1 in Toronto.
Taylor explained that Shaw needed to be managed properly once returning from international duty, which saw her miss the opener against West Ham, come off the bench against Chelsea before starting and playing an hour against Everton.
“Bunny had an unfortunate issue when she came back from Jamaica,” Taylor declared.
“The season she had last year and playing the role she did against Everton the other night, she created Jess Park’s goal and scored before we took her off,” he noted.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw scored her 17th league goal of the season on Sunday as Manchester City Women hit West Ham Women for six to move into second in the Women Super League table.
Shaw scored in the 62nd minute that made it 4-1 for the Cityzens, who scored early and often in the match-up that ended 6-2 at the Academy Stadium.
Chloe Kelly scored twice in the sixth and seventh minutes giving Manchester City early control of the match. Emma Sterle made it 2-1 in the 21st minute but barely four minutes later, City regained their two-goal cushion when Laura Coombs headed in to make it 3-1.
Shaw added City’s fourth and Steph Houghton, who was celebrating her birthday added a fifth three minutes later. Khaira Keating’s own goal made it 5-2 in the 72nd before Mary Fowler scored Manchester City’s sixth eight minutes from the end of regulation.
Manchester City Women now have 41 points from 18 games and are now just three points behind league leaders Manchester United Women.
Chelsea Women are third on 40 points but have played only 16 matches.
Not far behind, Arsenal Women who have 38 points from 17 matches played, complete the top four.
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