After an international break, Liam Gilbert's Royals take the trip to Durham, eager to show their quality following a first loss of the season against Southampton.

Claiming the squad would've preferred to jump straight into another game, Gilbert acknowledges the positive of the break, and how it's left the side more determined than ever to take to the pitch on Sunday.

"This week has given us a good chance to take a step back and have a bit of a breather.

"There's a lot we want to embed into the team, and there's plenty for us to work on. But it's been good, it's always good to have a bit of time where we're not prepping directly for a match. The girls have been busy, and we're all hard at work."

While Gilbert acknowledged two perspectives on the international break, highlighting the eagerness to play more matches, he found value in the pause. "This week has allowed me to take a step back and look at things in a bigger picture. There are always going to be teething problems, but as I said, our squad is energetic and enthusiastic about this season, and we will learn from that.

"We're a collective, and it's important we're always learning and improving and that we take these lessons forward. But again, on the flip side, we've had a couple of weeks to analyze, look at certain bits and go into a little more detail because we've had the time to do it. It's been a useful week.

"I can already tell that I have a squad that is committed, dedicated, and willing to fight for each other. It's been helpful getting everyone up to speed, and now we can start to work as a whole collective, which has been really positive.

"It's been a really good experience so far. Obviously, for me, it's a new league to get a grasp of and a new squad, but I think it's been received really well by the girls, and we're just looking to carry on moving forward."

Looking ahead to the next match against Durham, Gilbert highlighted the opponent's strengths. "Durham is a very well-organized team; they're quick on the counter and transition well, so it's vital that we're switched on because in this league, if you want a result, we have to make sure we're at it."

"This month feels like a new start for us. Obviously, we spoke before the break, and I mentioned how that felt like the end of the first chapter this season. There's been a lot happening since the end of pre-season, with injuries, new signings, and now the international break, but I think things are starting to fall into place now.

"Now our focus is back on the league and our next block of fixtures. We need to ensure that we are the best versions of ourselves so we can get results and put more points on the board."

Gilbert | "We've been waiting to get back, and now is the time to show our quality"