Vicki Linton has praised her side's motivation levels ahead of Sunday's return to the park against Perth Glory, despite not having played since January 7.
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A near two-and-a-half week break will end abruptly next week as United host Perth at Viking Park before flying west to tackle the same side just six days later, according to the W-League's latest incarnation of its ever-changing fixture released on Tuesday.
The Canberra coach has gone from three matches in nine days to a seemingly endless training block during an unusual start to the season, but staying enthusiastic has not been a problem for United.
"It's the individual personalities, someone like a Kendall [Fletcher] definitely brings energy to every day," Linton said.
"It was a pretty tough couple of weeks but every single person has turned up this week with a really fresh and positive perspective.
"When you play three games in nine days I think it's really good timing having the bye. That was just perfect timing, then allows us to fully prepare for the next game."
The likes of Fletcher and Michelle Heyman bring a wealth of experience to Linton's squad, but the team is also bolstered by a stack of young talent like 16-year-old duo Jessika Nash, and Sasha Grove.
"From a global perspective of women's football for Australia, it's a really good opportunity this season for them to get some starts," Linton said of her young brigade.
"The last time I coached in the W-League was eight years ago and every team had 16 year olds in the team, players like Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord, Emily van Egmond, Steph Catley, Alanna Kennedy, I mean I can go on and on.
"We went through a phase, then they grew up. The W-League is not a stranger to having young players, I'm not. They're here on merit as well as you've seen by the quality of players we've brought in."
Nash is a prime example of Linton's propensity to blood young talent on the national stage.
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The young defender captained the Junior Matildas at the under-16s Women's Championship in 2019, and played every game of last year's NSW National Premier League Women's competition.
She signed for United during the off season and was named to start at the heart of defence in the side's pulsating round one win over Adelaide.
"Getting that privilege from Vicki and knowing that she backs me was incredible and hopefully getting to continue that through the season will be great," Nash said.
"To play with this team has been unreal and getting to make my debut was just an extra bonus."
Second-placed United have two wins and a draw from their first three games.
"The W-League is not a stranger to having young players. They're here on merit as well as you've seen by the quality of players we've brought in."
- Canberra United coach Vicki Linton