Everton have made Manchester City and England international midfielder Jill Scott their second signing of the January window according to reports on The Blue Girls’ official website.
Scott previously played for Everton between 2006 and 2013 when she represented the club on 114 occasions, scoring 21 goals. The player then moved over to the blue half of Manchester and after eight years with The Cityzens, she has now made a dramatic return to Everton on a loan deal which will run until the end of the season.
Scott had only last played for City in their FA Women’s Continental League Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea last night so the news may come as something of a shock to many. However, with the arrival of FIFA Women’s World Cup winners Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis at The Academy Stadium, Scott has found her opportunities in the starting XI limited this season.
Everton manager Willie Kirk had hinted that the club would be bringing in reinforcements following the departure of Spanish international midfielder Damaris Egurrola to European champions Lyon and he will be pleased to have added some top class experience to the same area of the pitch in the form of Scott. The 33-year-old midfielder could mark her return on Sunday as Everton travel to London to face Rehanne Skinner’s Tottenham Hotspur, a side that they beat 1-0 at Walton Hall Park in the reverse fixture in September.
The Blue Girls began the season very strongly with many tipping them to be dark horses in the title race, however, they have gradually fallen behind the leading pack, largely due to injuries. Scott’s experience and quality could be the shot in the arm that the club need to start climbing up the table once again.