Nick Cushing’s City squad were in high spirits as we rounded off preparations ahead of Sunday’s crucial FA Women’s Super League assignment away to fellow high-fliers Chelsea.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for the joint leaders with Chelsea lying just two points behind us in third place but with a game in hand.

However, skipper Steph Houghton and her colleagues will step out on Sunday buoyed by the huge confidence boost of a five-match run of victories.

And, as our training gallery shows, despite the worst of the Manchester weather, the City players were in great spirits as we finalised the build-up for Chelsea.

View the best of the gallery above…