View: Sunderland Women ace has perfect chance to impress away from club this week
Sunderland Women star Mary McAteer has the perfect platform to impress after linking up with Wales Women for their crucial clash with Slovakia.
McAteer has been a key component to Mel Reay's side, despite club side Sunderland having endured a tough start to the campaign.
The Welshwoman has featured in all of her side's games so far this season, scoring a crucial goal in their encounter against Durham Women to secure a derby day victory.
Attention now turns to international duty for McAteer, providing a chance to impress away from Sunderland Women after being pictured in training, as shared by the Sunderland Women X account [24 October].
Derby victory is a platform to build from for Sunderland Women
Reay's side secured only their second win of the season when they defeated Durham Women but it can be a great opportunity for The Lasses to build some momentum following the current international break.
The win didn't change their position in the table but it closed the gap on several teams above them.
Sunderland Women demonstrated last season that they are a squad filled with talent and only narrowly missed out on promotion.
Much of that squad remains at the club today, although results haven't quite shown that to be the case.
Reay's women have just two wins in their opening six games, suffering a defeat against rivals Newcastle United in what was a record-breaking encounter at the Stadium of Light.
With it being so early in the season, fortunes can still change for Sunderland Women and their recent victory can provide a big boost as they look to get back to the level of performance they were demonstrating regularly last season.
If that is to happen, McAteer will be key to that. Hopefully she can show exactly what she is capable of in her country's key showdown with Slovakia.
For more Sunderland news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.