LFC WomenNatasha Dowie interview: 'I'm back to help the team and hungry for goals'
Natasha Dowie is eager to get back doing what she does best: scoring goals.
Now in her second spell with Liverpool FC Women, the striker has recovered from a hamstring strain and is determined to make up for lost time – starting with Sunday’s home game against Brighton & Hove Albion.
After returning to the Reds on loan from Reading in January, she almost made a dream start when she headed against the crossbar during the 1-0 loss to Leicester City. Just days later, however, a pulled hamstring in training has resulted in Dowie missing the last four games.
During the international break the No.29 worked hard on her recovery and netted in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Tottenham Hotspur, and she’s now ready to make a mark on the remainder of the campaign.
Inside Training: LFC Women prepare for Brighton test
“I feel great,” Dowie told Liverpoolfc.com. “I got my first 45 minutes at the weekend in a friendly, scored a goal, which was a really nice feeling.
“Every day I put on the Liverpool kit in training, it just feels great. Every day I’m making the most of being back at this club, enjoying it and enjoying being back with the girls.
“I can’t wait to get back out there this weekend in front of our own supporters at Prenton Park against Brighton. It has been a frustrating year so far all round for me really but I’m thankful to be back at Liverpool.
“I feel great, I feel in great condition and really sharp. I’ve had a really good seven weeks of getting back fit now under Unders [sports therapist Chris Underwood] and every day it has been intense.
“I’ve been out on that field and my sharpness is there, but now I just need to get my game time again. I cannot wait for Sunday now and hopefully I can get some minutes.”
With six games remaining in 2022-23 in the Barclays Women’s Super League, LFC Women are hoping to finish as high as they possibly can. Matt Beard’s side are currently in eighth spot in the table and six points clear of the relegation zone.
“We’ve got six games left now and I really want to have a big impact in those games and repay Beardy’s faith in me,” said Dowie.
“All my career I have always scored goals and I have been very blessed to be able to do that. In my first spell at Liverpool under Beardy, I had probably the best spell of my career scoring goals.
“In this team we create chances and as a striker I know if I get a chance I will put the ball in the back of the net. So whether it’s coming off the bench or starting, I can have an impact. I just love scoring goals and that’s what I’ve come here to do.”
She continued: “I don’t want the season to end because for me it hasn’t started, so I’m so determined to make the most of these remaining games and try to help this team.
“Every single training session, every single game, I’m making the most of it because I really do want to finish this season on a high and maybe stay at this club long term.”
Sunday’s visit of Brighton is a game you can watch live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO, with kick-off set for 2pm BST.
The Reds go into the fixture full of confidence and are unbeaten in their last three matches.
“The girls have been in really good form and since I’ve come here we got a good result against Reading, we were really unlucky against Leicester with the chances we had and played very well against Tottenham and Everton,” said Dowie.
“Defensively, we look really tight and have kept a few clean sheets. Gemma Bonner, for me, has been terrific at the back and there’s been a lot of standout performances from many of the players – Fuka Nagano in midfield as well, Katie Stengel up front.
“I feel there is a really strong spine to this team but also we have players coming off the bench who have had a good impact as well.
“With the injuries that we have had, the players have done really well to keep getting these positive results, and I think we have done incredibly well considering.”
Brighton, meanwhile, currently occupy 10th place in the standings but head into this Prenton Park clash on the back of a 3-2 win over Everton on Wednesday.
“It’s great to be back at home again and we can’t wait,” Dowie said. “This is going to be a tough game. I watched Brighton when they were really unlucky to lose 3-2 to Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final, with their winning goal in the last minute. They will be full of confidence coming into this game.
“Every game in the WSL is so tough but I think at home in front of our own fans we have got a really good record. And with the likes of Shanice [van de Sanden], Mel [Lawley] and myself back, we have got a bit more firepower, so that makes it really exciting.
“We don’t want to now just be safe, and I feel we can kick on and look to overtake West Ham, who are just above us in the table, and try to catch the teams above us and finish as high as possible.”
Dowie also spoke of her admiration for Beard, who brought her back to the club she loves during the recent winter transfer window.
She finished: “It’s great working with Beardy because we go back a long time to when I was 18 at Charlton. Beardy, first and foremost, just treats you as a good human being and I think that’s the most important thing.
“You want to work hard for him when you go out on that pitch and he knows what I do best, he knows I score goals and he knows my style of play.
“He trusts me, he’s a great guy and I’m a senior player now, so I try to help the young players and be there for them as well.”
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