Tomorrow’s clash against the Irons is the third time we will have faced Olli Harder’s side in 2022.

The Blues are looking to bounce back following Saturday’s Continental Tyres League Cup defeat to Manchester City and continue our unbeaten WSL run this year.

Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Hayes said: ‘I don’t think the timing of a defeat ever matters, but I do think if it’s your last game and you have to wait a whole off season, that’s probably worse. Playing a game Saturday and then a game Thursday is a perfect scenario, if it exists. So, I’m delighted to have another game so quickly after.’

‘All year it’s been game after game after game, which is a good thing. Of course, it’s disappointing to lose, but you have to lose and as long as we’re picking up the lessons from it, I see very much an opportunity tomorrow against a team that I really rate.’

The boss was full of praise for Harder and his West Ham side, adding: ‘In the games we’ve played they were very tight games. I’m just looking forward to games on the bounce, I personally like them thick and fast because it allows you to build on things.

‘The quality of their team is outstanding, they just maybe lack a little bit of depth to kick on from that but I’ve appreciated the work they’ve done. They make it very, very difficult as an opponent because they go one vs one against you everywhere, especially in the front press. You have to work hard to solve situations against them but I’m looking forward to the game against a tough opponent.’

Hayes also provided an update on fitness and injury, revealing captain Magdalena Eriksson will be out after contracting Covid-19.

‘Fran’s [Kirby] still not available,' she added. 'Jessie [Fleming] will have another test this afternoon, so I don’t know about Jessie at the minute.

‘Magda's tested positive, it’s a setback, but it’s been a thin group for a while so it’s not unusual for us. Covid is here, I’m sure it’ll be across clubs, we just have to minimise it as much as we can so we don’t lose too many players every time.’

Hayes also added she is unsure on the fitness of Erin Cuthbert, as she planned to meet the club doctor later to update her on our No.22’s injury.

‘I know she’s on the grass, I know she is up to 80, 90 per cent. I don’t know if that means she’s available this weekend or not’ Hayes said.

‘We don’t know from game to game, week to week which players we have so that in itself presents something different. It’s a challenge but we’ve got Maren [Mjelde] who’s nearing a full return, Magda would’ve been, Beth [England] is now fit and available.

‘This team has been really adaptable anyway so it certainly gives me the opportunity to play around with some different things, but I do think Covid and quick turnarounds have meant you can’t overplan too much. You have to be prepared to adjust quite quickly and everybody’s quite used to that now. If you lose a player on game day, everyone’s adjusted to that, it’s become the norm in Covid times.’

Earlier this week Melanie Leupolz announced the happy news of her pregnancy to staff and players. Speaking on the news, Hayes said: ‘Amazing girl, she’s someone who’s really been a delight to coach and I’m super happy for her. I know she’ll be an amazing mum and I know that everybody will embrace her and the baby into the team which will be nice.'

On the prospect of facing West Ham, Hayes added: ‘Their football has changed under Olli, there’s more build-ups, more patient play. They didn’t have Yui Hasegawa the last time we played them, she’s an excellent player so I think she brings another dimension.

‘They play with wing-backs and those wing-backs have given them real threat going forward. Once they do get into the wide areas, they create a lot of overloads especially in the back post, very threatening in the air, very threatening from set-pieces. I really respect the work he’s done there.’

The race for the league title continues as Hayes’ side remain second in league standings with three games in hand over top-of-the-table Arsenal.

‘We’ve never been first so for us there’s never a feeling of we’ve lost something, we only have something to gain. I don’t feel like the situation is any different, we just have to focus one game at a time. This week with West Ham, let’s get three points if we can and if we do then we move closer towards what we’re trying to achieve.’

Tomorrow’s game is our first league game since Friday 11 February and Hayes explains she’s looking forward to getting back into WSL action.

‘We have really good conversations with Olli when I go over there. Good relationships with two teams off the pitch, the coaching staff. I look forward to seeing Olli and I’m just looking forward to getting back to league play, it’s been a long time without a league game.’

Tomorrow evening’s game against the Irons kicks off at 7.45pm (UK time) and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football, with coverage starting from 7.30pm.