Rachel Williams 'starts fresh' with Notts County Ladies

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Rachel Williams (far l)Image source, Drew Smith
Image caption,

Rachel Williams (far left) scored with a header on her WSL debut with Notts County Ladies against former side Chelsea

Forward Rachel Williams says she has rediscovered a child-like excitement for football with Notts County after an injury-hit season with Chelsea Ladies.

The England international, 27, marked her Women's Super League debut for the Lady Magpies with a goal against her former club in Sunday's 2-1 loss.

"It is definitely a fresh start for me," Williams told BBC Sport.

"I was like a kid again. I woke up, had the music channel on and was dancing around the house."

And the soundtrack to her debut - Taylor Swift's hit single Shake it Off.

"I'm a bit of a softy for Taylor Swift - I do like her tunes," added the former Leicester City, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Birmingham City player.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Rachel Williams was part of the Great Britain side that reached the quarter-finals of the 2012 London Olympic Games

Williams, the top-flight's leading goalscorer in 2011 with Birmingham City, admits she was overcome with emotion after levelling against her former side in their league opener.

"We came back into the game and, with the emotions of coming back from injury, I just lost myself and wanted to celebrate," she said.

Williams, who scored seven goals in 13 games for Chelsea last season, has netted four times in 13 appearances for the national side.

She still hopes to emulate Lady Magpies team-mate Ellen White by returning from injury and being considered for an England recall - and admits her hamstring, ankle and knee problems of 2014 have forced her to rebuild her career.

"England is out of my control, but obviously if I'm playing well for club all I can do is hope that [England boss] Mark Sampson will pick me," said Williams.

"The World Cup is coming up but considering the year that I had last year, it's about keeping fit and keeping injury free and enjoying club football again."

Despite starting the season with defeat by a side considered fellow title contenders, Williams insists Notts County will be unaffected ahead of Thursday's meeting with Arsenal at Meadow Lane.

"It's the first game of the season, we are not going to get down about it," she said.

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