Addie Handley is aiming to repay the manager’s trust at Hearts

The full-back returned to the starting line-up late last month after a brilliant cameo off the bench vs Hibs. Since then, Handley hasn’t looked back and has provided a significant attacking threat down the left flank. The 19-year-old had been a consistent starter by the end of the 2022/23 season, but the signing of Esther Morgan has now made the left-back spot far more competitive. However, after starting her last two games, Handley hopes that she will continue to improve upon her game. 

“All I am doing each week is trying to make sure that I can be part of the team on the weekend,” she told the Edinburgh Evening News. “For me personally, I hope that I can keep performing and keep getting the trust from my manager and coaching staff. I just want to keep improving and to try to work on things in training that will work in the game. The left-footed crossing is definitely one of them.”

Handley is expected to receive more game time over the coming months after Esther Morgan picked up an injury over the international break. The full-back will be hoping to keep up her recent run of form in this period. The 19-year-old picked up another assist on the weekend as Hearts beat Partick 4-1. With the last game of 2023 coming up this weekend, Handley hopes her side can pick up some points against high-flyers Celtic.

“It is all to play for,” she added. “We always go into these games like Celtic knowing that it is all to play for. If we can get something out of the game, whether it be a draw or three points that’s brilliant. That will put us in a much better position going into the next half of the season.”