Brennan snapped up by Forfar

LAUREN Brennan was a surprised as anyone when Forfar Farmington manager Ryan McConville offered her the chance to play in Scottish Women’s Premier League 1 this season.

The Sion Mills woman was recuperating from a torn meniscus in her knee, which had kept her out of action for almost nine months. And having only gone under the knife in Lithuania three weeks ago, the 25-year-old thought her chances of a return to the full-time game were over for another season.

However, after the striker enjoyed a sterling spell with Sion Swifts Ladies in the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership before injury struck, and knowing what Brennan is capable of from his time coaching in his native Northern Ireland, McConville was happy to take her onboard on a one year semi-professional contract.

“It’s fantastic news, especially after the operation,” beamed Brennan, who was playing professionally for Grindavik in Iceland for two years before a spell in Australia was cut short with an ACL injury

The Northern Ireland international continued: “I saw the players they were signing and I knew a few of them so I thought I’d give it a go. It’s a contract again and it will give me the chance to build myself back up again.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of a new league. We’ll be playing against Rangers and Celtic and two of the girls from Belfast got signed by Rangers, so I’ll be playing against players I know as well.”

While Brennan admits she will be playing only a watching brief initially as she works her way back to fitness, if her already speedy recuperation is anything to go by then it won’t be long before she’s making her debut.

“I had my operation three weeks ago, so I’m hoping to be back to running properly in the next month and then I’ll gradually get into game time with 15 minutes and 30 minutes,” explained the talented attacker, who is hoping to earn a full-time contract for next season.

The Tyrone woman added: “Hopefully it won’t be too long, but I’m working with the rehab coach, who will get me up and running. A bit of hard work and we’ll be grand!”

Lauren will join fellow new signings and Northern Ireland internationals Jade Lindsay and Billie Simpson, Americans Hayley Kern and Anne Metz, Scot Megan Paterson and rising Icelandic star Magdalena Olafsdottir at Station Park for the new season.