Women’s Super League Q&A: football writer Suzanne Wrack answers your questions now

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trinder19 asks: How much will City’s failure to sign an attacking midfielder to cover for Miedama cost them? Benítez would have been quite the coup and they should try again for her next time. My view is that just about any side would miss Miedema’s intelligence and ability but if there’s one thing City have an abundance of, it’s attackers. Her absence will give Beney and Fowler a chance to shine in that central role, and of course Mead can play there too.

Suzanne: Losing Vivianne Miedema is of course a huge blow for any length of time and I think her absence towards the end of last season coinciding with City’s slight faltering and lack of rhythm wasn’t a coincidence. As you say, you could view City’s lack of action in that area in the transfer window, bar the late attempt to Fiamma Benítez as costly, or you can view it as an opportunity for the likes of Mary Fowler or Iman Beney to step up and really make that position their own. Is that a risk or not getting Benítez a blow? Maybe, but I think I personally prefer players being given a chance rather than cautious clubs recruiting and blocking the route to starting games for those younger talents.

However, if City didn’t think Fowler or Beney or anything else is ready for that role and they really wanted Benítez then they should have gone harder for her much much sooner, because Miedema’s injuries issues haven’t been a secret in recent years.