'She didn't want to miss today' - Jess Park's absence from Man City's win over West Ham explained by Gareth Taylor ahead of huge Champions League clash with Barcelona

Park has started the new season in flying form, scoring three times in her first two outings. However, she was absent from the squad entirely as City beat the Hammers on Sunday.

The Cityzens were able to get the job done without the England international, winning 2-0, but Park's absence certainly raised concern among fans given it came only a few days before a massive meeting with Barcelona, the reigning European champions, in the Champions League group stage.

Speaking after the game, head coach Gareth Taylor issued an update on Park's fitness. "She'll be fine," he said. "She didn't want to miss today but we took the decision after speaking with the medical department, to just kind of relieve some pressure she had in an area under her foot. She's absolutely fine. She actually trained today in isolation. We never felt that we would probably need her today and I mean that with all my respect to West Ham, it was just more with the other options that we had."

Man City actually beat Barcelona the last time they faced them, back in the 2020-21 season. That, though, was only after the Catalans had beat them 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, meaning City's 2-1 victory a week later didn't stop them exiting the competition.

Park will hope this rest serves her well and that she can play an important role when City welcome Barca to Manchester on Wednesday, for their first game of this season's UWCL group phase.