InterviewHannah Silcock: It's really exciting - I just need to keep pushing myself

The 20-year-old defender has risen through the ranks on Merseyside, having appeared 18 times at first-team level so far.

Silcock – who joined Liverpool at the age of eight – is aiming to build upon a solid base after spending last season around the senior side.

She spoke exclusively to Liverpoolfc.com at the AXA Melwood Training Ground to give her thoughts on her new deal, her ambitions and much more – read the interview in full below…

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Hannah, congratulations. How does it feel to put pen to paper on a new deal?

It's really exciting. I've been at the club a long while, so to extend my stay is exciting.

You've obviously come through the academy, just tell us a bit about that journey and experience...

I think all the time you're a player in the academy you're pushing to get to the first team. To get there when I was 16 and 17 and get some minutes was really exciting. Now I feel like I'm really part of the team and I can push that on further next season.

You've spent a lot of time around the senior side now and you had a spell on loan at Blackburn Rovers as well. What have you learned from stepping into senior football over the last few seasons?

I think my loan at Blackburn was really needed for me to get consistent minutes and I really enjoyed the Championship. It's a really physical and competitive league. We had a good season and I feel like I learnt a lot playing in that team, and hopefully I can implement that going forward.

Has it just been about continuing that learning from being around the senior team every day?

One hundred per cent. I think there's a lot of senior players here that we learn from. Obviously Niamh [Fahey] was a big role model for me. It was great to learn from her for the last few years. There are great people around and you can always ask anyone for help.

And it's about kicking on to that next aim for you now. Is that to get some more consistent playing time in the WSL?

Yeah, 100 per cent. Everyone wants to be playing and no one wants to sit on the bench. I feel like last season I was training really well and I obviously got injured. I know I can get to that level and I'm just looking forward to next season.

Whenever you talk to any of the squad it feels like there's a real strong connection here. Was that part of your reasoning for wanting to extend your stay?

Yeah. I feel like anyone can chat to anyone. It's a really great team and family feel and environment.

You must be pleased to have this done and dusted so you can focus fully on pre-season now. How have the preparations been going so far?

I think it's just about building fitness and learning off each other. Obviously we've got a few games coming up, which will be really exciting to get some minutes. We'll see what happens.

And the new season will be upon us quickly. It's an exciting first game against Everton at Anfield...

I've not played at Anfield yet either so that would be a dream come true to play there.

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That must be one of the bucket list items having come through the academy, to run out onto that pitch...

Definitely. Being a Liverpool fan that's what you dream of. It'll be a proud day for me and my family.

As a team is it just about building on the base you have in the WSL in the new season?

I think so. It's a really exciting group and everyone is really hungry to play and it's just building on last season.

And for yourself, is it about gaining more minutes and experience when the new season starts?

Yeah, everyone wants to play, like I said. I know that I can I just need to keep pushing myself and hopefully get some opportunities.