The first opportunity to lift a trophy this season comes this afternoon. Emma Hayes's side faces Arsenal in the Continental Tyres League Cup final at Molineux. It is another hurdle for Chelsea to clear.

There have been many throughout the campaign, particularly on the injury front. Reiten has endured her own extended spell on the sidelines as she was ruled out with an ankle ligament injury between October and December.

The timing was especially cruel. Reiten had established herself as one of European football's standout wide players during the 2022/23 campaign. Her form resulted in a place in the PFA Team of the Year, a Ballon d’Or nomination, and two trophies with Chelsea.

Reiten was ready to step up again come the start of the current campaign – and she scored a last-minute equaliser in our second game away at fellow Women's Super League title challenges Manchester City.

But then came the ankle injury and more than two months in the treatment room at Cobham. It was a spell of frustration and disappointment for the Norway international.

Reiten pushed herself hard to ensure as swift a return as possible. There was no thought of using her time on the sidelines as an opportunity to recharge after a summer spent at the World Cup.

‘It did give me a bit of a mental break but no player wants to be injured. Unfortunately, it's just part of the game you have to deal with.

‘I felt unlucky that after just two games I was then out for three months. I came back just before Christmas and feel like I haven’t really found myself after that. But I’m slowly starting to get into the form that I want.

'You lose so much from not playing: relationships with other players, confidence on the pitch, and things you don’t think about. It’s not just a case of saying, "I’m back from injury ready to play and everything is as normal." You have to work for it.’

Reiten is far from alone in spending enforced time away from the pitch this season. Millie Bright, Mia Fishel and Sam Kerr have been ruled out for prolonged periods while Catarina Macario has only recently returned from an ACL injury.

In January, following the news that Kerr would not play again this season, Reiten spoke publicly about the need for others to step up and win matches. That the Blues remain in the hunt for four trophies is proof that call to action was heard.

‘It’s been a challenging year for us,' says the Norwegian. 'We’ve had so many injuries and so many different players out. Even though it has been hard at times, we’ve always found a way and have adapted to the players we have available.

'To be in this position at this point of the season, it’s a credit to everyone from the medical staff, coaches, and the players. It shows the importance of every player. It is in moments like this, when you’ve got big games and players are out, that you have to step up.

'Nothing is given. You have to earn it and work hard – and it is hard because you’ll barely play for two months but then get your chance [in the team] and you have to be ready.

'That is a credit to the whole group – everyone has stepped up recently. Look at Sjoeke, she’s playing centre-back, midfielder, striker…it’s ridiculous! Everyone is doing their job and I love to be a part of that.’

Reiten recently signed a new contract with the club, which includes an option for her to stay until 2026. It means she will be part of the new era at Chelsea after Hayes departs at the end of the campaign.

Reiten will enter that next chapter as one of the more senior figures in the dressing room – she recently made her 150th Chelsea appearance and is fast approaching the fifth anniversary of her arrival at the club.

But every group needs balance and she is more comfortable making others feel relaxed rather than bellowing instructions across the pitch.

She says: 'We are all leaders in our own way. Yes, we have a few young players but we also have a lot of very experienced players at this level.

‘I am just being me in every way possible. I love to smile, I want to have fun and laugh, that is my way and I think it's maybe what I bring to the team.

‘But I know when we need to find our game face – and we have the experience in the team to do that. We have done it over and over again and know exactly what to do when trophies are up for grabs. The fans can trust us.’

Trusting Reiten to deliver against Arsenal is certainly not a problem. In the vital victory over our London rivals on the penultimate weekend of last season, she opened the scoring with a wonderful half-volley. It was a goal that went a long way to securing the title.

Reiten also played 90 minutes earlier this month as Arsenal were swept aside 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. She believes the confidence taken from that night will give every player the extra belief needed to bring home the League Cup on Sunday.

‘It’s two of the best teams meeting each other,' she says. 'And when you have to meet them again only a few weeks later, of course, you have that in the back of your head, it wouldn’t be natural to not.

'The game plan for the match at Stamford Bridge was perfect and we executed it perfectly. But now it’s a scenario where we think, "What will they change for the final?" And then it's about what we have to change to get it right again.

‘That side of the game plan and our tactics will come into it. It’s going to be interesting to see, but that win the other week gave us so much confidence. I believe we can play just as well in that final.'