Reading Women’s defender Emma Mitchell has returned to the club following her maternity leave.

First arriving in 2020, she made almost 20 appearances before taking leave in spring 2021, giving birth to her daughter Innes in November.

Signing a one-year extension, she revealed her return through a social media post earlier in the week.

Speaking to the club upon her return to training, she said: “I’ve known for a few weeks now that I'm coming back, and yesterday being on the pitch for the first time with the girls was probably a mixture of emotions.

“It was the first day that I left Innes at the nursery and wasn't really sure how she was going to be, but she settled really well which was really good and, you know, it's almost like coming here, you get a little bit of a break. Like you can just switch off a little bit after being a Mum 24/7 for 8 months straight, but not that I’m complaining as it’s been brilliant.

READ MORE: Reading FC Women trio sign new contracts

“Obviously I’ve not played for over a year now, April of 2021 being my last game, so I know it will be a gradual process to get back to full match fitness.

“Despite this, my goals have always been the same, working hard for the time and achieving the best we can with both Reading and Scotland.”

Mitchell follows Deanna Cooper, Lily Woodham, and Academy graduate Tia Primmer in signing extensions this month.