Due to injury, Millie Bright will not take part tonight when Chelsea attempt to extend our lead over fellow title challengers Manchester City in the Women's Super League table.

The club captain’s lengthy absence has of course been regrettable, but there is one opportunity it has created for Hayes.

Niamh Charles, by no means one of the most experienced players, was asked to wear the armband for the third time this season in our most recent outing. And she is not alone in standing in as skipper in Bright's absence, with Erin Cuthbert having done so twice. Hayes explains why.

‘Niamh has stepped up in leadership in different ways,’ she says.

‘She's a really good communicator. She has good emotional intelligence so she can sense-check things around our environment which I think is needed. She picks up on that really well.

‘Erin leads by example and she's done that by taking games by the scruff of the neck.

‘They've been complementary to each other and this isn't to take anything away from Sophie [Ingle] or Maren [Mjelde], or the senior leaders that we have, but I have been intentionally trying to develop the younger players to take responsibility.

'They've done a really, really good job. We have a lot of leaders so we're really lucky.’

Hayes will likely expect Cuthbert to have an impact on what she believes will be a key contest in midfield this evening. German international Melanie Leupolz has also been a key presence in the centre of the pitch for the Blues since the restart of the campaign.

‘There's so much quality on the pitch for both teams that there'll be interesting match-ups everywhere – and I can say that Melanie Leupolz has been an anchor for us since Christmas,’ Hayes explains.

‘She's been instrumental in our performances and she's given Erin Cuthbert the licence to be more aggressive and tenacious, and that’s what she's doing.

‘Our midfield has been excellent from Christmas onwards so it will be a great match-up against the quality in Man City’s team, and one I'm very much looking forward to.’