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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
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Simone Magill

'I've never seen that before' - Everton forward Simone Magill explains big changes happening before her eyes

Being back on the pitch has been fantastic for me.

I'd been away for the first part of the season for different reasons, I'd missed the start of the campaign with Northern Ireland and I was just itching to get back.

It was a good game to get some goals in, to score four was quite nice! You try to score one, but they just kept coming. It was a nice feeling to get the goal tally up, and the assists as well!

That was quite an enjoyable game, I got on the ball so much. It was nice to be on the other end of it, even though I think I'd have been gutted if I hadn't got another goal myself! To contribute in a different way was great.

The last 90 minutes I'd played was in April, it had been such a long time.

I'd started to get ten or 15 minutes here and there, but to get 90 was massive. To get two back-to-back was fantastic for me to get over that hurdle, and show myself that I'm back.

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TV difference

I've noticed when the games are on Sky or BBC, they're starting to trend on Twitter. I've just never seen that before.

This is our game, people are talking about it, people are watching it. I think I saw stats released that 14 million people had been watching the league this season.

People say "nobody watches women's football". Well, those stats show you people actually are.

It's amazing for us to finally get the platform. For so many years we've played in the dark, people haven't watched or haven't been bothered. Nobody would have known you had a game.

So to now be in the light and for people to see it, it just kind of makes all those years worth it.

I actually did notice more people get in touch after my goal against Manchester United on Sky Sports. It's not as if it was an amazing goal!

Just on the socials more than anything, more people are talking about it that I'd never seen speak to me or mention anything about me before.

It's just a different level. Last season on the FA Player, not many people would have seen it. So there is definitely a difference, especially when the games are televised.

That's the peak.

Personal aim

It was so hard watching those games at the start of the season.

In the off-season, I was recovering from the injury and it was just taking a little bit longer than we hoped. It was just to make sure that everything was right.

I had to miss the start of the season and it's so difficult to watch and not really help, because you're not on the pitch.

I was here when Willie Kirk first came in, and you knew what he'd done. When he came in, we were at such a low point and he took us far - we had an FA Cup final and some really high moments.

We won't forget what he's done here.

We got off to a rocky start, we struggled to pick up point, but things are looking up for us now. Especially in the new year, things will be really bright for us.

We're in a new era with Jean-Luc Vasseur and we're really excited to see where we can go.

The sessions are hard, they're different! We're all getting used to it every day, it's a different style to what we're used to, especially those who have been in England or at this club for a period of time.

We're improving, getting more detail in every day, and everyone will see the benefits of it when we've had more time together.

I personally feel good, I feel like I've been really tested over this last month just with everything that's gone into my legs.

Obviously with the changeover as well, things being so different, the fact that my body has handled that so well shows me how far I've come.

Hopefully it's all going in one direction now, I won't look back. It's so important this year for me to stay injury-free, it's probably the biggest footballing year in my life.

Touch wood, so far it's going well and hopefully that can remain.

Last year I got six goals, and I suppose my minutes last season weren't amazing. So I was kind of happy with the goals-to-minutes ratio last season.

I said I want to beat that this year, I've got off the mark quite quickly in getting two back-to-back! As a striker, you just want to build on that so hopefully it's a sign of more things to come.

If I can start or come on, whatever way it is, I just want to contribute to the team.

I just want to show what I can do, what I can bring to the team.

Everton Women have two exciting home games at Walton Hall Park coming up – and Season Ticket Members and Official Members can attend the matches FOR FREE!

Everton, now under the management of Champions League-winning boss Jean-Luc Vasseur, will take on West Ham United at Walton Hall Park in a WSL clash on Sunday 12 December.

Vasseur’s side will then host Manchester United in another Continental Cup showdown on Wednesday 15 December.

Season Ticket and Official Members can visit https://www.evertonfc.com/women/tickets to take advantage of our special offer and claim their free tickets for the games at Walton Hall Park!

All other fans can secure their seats for £8 for adults and £4 for concessions.

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