Canberra United has named a second sign-on to its Westfield W-League squad, as Canberra local Laura Hughes re-signs with her home club.
The 2020-21 season will be Hughes’ fourth with Canberra United, after spending her winter months with Iceland’s Thróttur Reykjavík FC this year.
Head coach Vicki Linton said she was pleased to see Hughes sign back on with the club, and work with her for the first time.
“She is a local, a product of the [Canberra United] academy program and has had three seasons already for Canberra in the W-League,” she said.
“The experience overseas in Iceland is only making her better. I have spoken to her and she is learning from the experience and she and I can’t wait to see what she can bring back to the W-league.”
Hughes has made 18 appearances for the Canberra side since her first at age 15 against the Brisbane Roar.
Now 21, Hughes said she cannot wait to get back and play in front of a Canberra crowd.
“I’m really excited to be given the opportunity to play for Canberra United this season and I’m looking forward to working with Vicki and seeing what we can achieve as a club,” she said.
“I absolutely love playing for Canberra United and there’s no other team I’d rather be a part of.
“I’m just counting down the days until I can put on that jersey and play for the fans at McKellar Park.”
Hughes will join Grace Maher, who signed with the Canberra club earlier in the month after two seasons with the Melbourne Victory Westfield W-League side.
Coach Linton said she would be making more announcements about members of the squad in coming weeks.
“I am starting to feel pretty good about it and starting to pull things together. It is obviously still preliminary, but we are starting to get a good base from what we can build on,” she said.
The W-League season start date, which is usually during November, is still up in the air. Linton said she expected to know more soon.
“With the COVID restrictions, it is looking more like in the new year as a start.”
