Having got off to a promising start to this season’s Champions League campaign with a 2-2 draw away at Real Madrid, even if we were unlucky not to get all three points, Chelsea Women’s first home European fixture of 2023/24 will see us host Paris FC at Stamford Bridge tomorrow evening.

However, we may have to do so without skipper Millie Bright in our defence, as Emma Hayes has confirmed the England international is managing an injury issue after missing the weekend’s 5-1 win over Liverpool in the Women’s Super League.

‘Millie is 50/50 for tomorrow,’ confirmed Hayes. ‘Having so many games in quick succession, we are managing her load. We wanted to give her a little bit of extra time, but she is very much in doubt for tomorrow.

‘Prior to the World Cup, she had surgery on her knee, so her preparation going into the World Cup wasn’t ideal. She rushed herself back from the World Cup and into the Chelsea season. Perhaps she needed a little bit longer.

‘Her knee is a little big angry at the minute. It’s nothing too detrimental, but we are listening to her body and how she is feeling. We are taking it on a day-to-day basis.’

Thankfully, Hayes will be able to call upon the talents of Niamh Charles at left-back, who starred in that draw with Real Madrid by scoring our first goal and setting up the second. It was the latest in a string of impressive performances by the 24-year-old, who has started every match in all competitions for the Blues so far this season.

‘I think she’s been in this place for quite some time, maybe since February or March last year, and I don’t think she’s looked back,’ Hayes added.

‘I always intend to get the best out of her strengths. She is on form and it’s coming together. She deserves the credit for everything she’s done, because it’s always been Niamh. She is a top pro and a role model for what you can achieve with hard work and competition.

‘Come and watch our training environment and the competition every day is fierce, it’s as tough as it gets. Niamh has developed a lot of experience against different opponents, so none of this is a surprise for us.’

Another member of Hayes’ squad who has caught the eye in recent weeks is young striker Aggie Beever-Jones, who found the net against Liverpool to make it four goals in as many league games for the 20-year-old.

Having come through the youth system at Chelsea and made an immediate impact on the senior side this season, following two years out on loan with Bristol City and Everton, Emma felt Beever-Jones’ progress is a testament to the players' talent and the hard work of the staff in our Academy.

‘Aggie has work to do still; knowing when to go it alone and link with others, but she is such a good learner. She is unbelievably effective in front of goal – the chances she has got, she has taken. There is competition between her and Sam Kerr, which is fun to see. They are driving standards for each other.

‘It’s good for Aggie to be in the conversation, but also shows how important the loan system is for us. Aggie is the first women’s player to have come all the way through the Academy system. It’s been a long time coming and hopefully Aggie will be the first of many.

‘It’s great for the Academy. Aggie went away an Academy player on loan, but came back a player for the first team. The team embraced her and acknowledged that loan. It speaks to young players that when you sign a contract, there is a path. That path may involve multiple loans over multiple years – and Aggie went to Everton and Bristol, she has journeyed to get here – but I think that means she is more ready.’