Melbourne City sign Albury's Chelsea Blissett on a new three-year contract

The defender, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament last December, is eight months into her rehabilitation process and targeting a return during the 2021-22 W-League season.

Blissett thanked City for their show of faith and revealed coach Rado Vidosic had moved quickly to reassure her at a time when fears of being left without a club could otherwise have loomed.

"I did have those thoughts because I didn't play and it was supposed to be my season," Blissett said.

"I felt that I'd put in all the hard work over the NPL season to be the best I've been for a while, confidence-wise and everything about my game had improved.

"But I spoke to Rado even before I left Melbourne to go back to Albury, before my surgery. I wanted to know how he felt about everything and what the go would be for next season.

"He told me the club was not letting me go, the club would re-sign me and he just wanted me to worry about myself. It was a big help, mentally.

"Of course, contract talks don't start until a bit later, but I was always in talks with the club and when I went down for my surgeon's appointments, the club let me use their facilities even though I wasn't contracted."

Blissett had surgery on her left meniscus last winter, after which she travelled north to play for Lions FC in the Queensland NPL competition.

She reached the grand final and confidence levels were soaring upon her return to Melbourne, only for the ACL to go just two weeks into pre-season.

"I knew straight away," Blissett said. "Everything I've been told about doing your ACL happened.

"I heard a pop, felt a twist and my knee gave way.

"I had lots of support but once the initial shock wears off, that's when it's really hard to swallow, especially when you see all you team-mates.

"You go into training to see the physio and all your friends are training, your boots are on the wall and you can't do anything.

"That was the heart-breaking part for me.

"When you're in rehab, sometimes you forget to look back and see how far you've come. You keep looking at where you want to be and that was one of my biggest issues at the start. I kept thinking of where I used to be."

Things were compounded when Blissett went in for shoulder reconstruction surgery.

"It was really hard being on crutches, I couldn't even walk and I had my arm in a sling for six weeks," she said.

"So not only was football taken away, a lot of my independence was taken away too.

"Mum and Dad had to do everything for me and a lot of the girls had to help me around when I had my arm in a sling so that was really hard.

"But now I can see the finish line, I'm able to look back and acknowledge what I've been through and how far I've come."

Blissett, who represented St Pats, Albury United and Albury City in the junior AWFA grades before moving away from the Border, is thrilled to have another three years of top-flight soccer in front of her.

"It's very exciting to have that level of backing and belief from the club," she said.

"Being away from football has made me love it even more.

"I'd never wish this injury on anyone but I do think the rehab process has helped me physically.

"It's allowed me to work on things I wouldn't normally get to work on.

"I know it's going to be tough at the start, getting back into everything, but I'm excited to see what I can do."

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Blissett, who's made 13 appearances in the W-League since joining City, hopes to be back in the team by mid-January.

"We're very happy to welcome Chelsea back to the club after what has been a tough last nine months," coach Vidosic said.

"She's done all the right things throughout her recovery and has maintained a positive mindset during the whole process.

"She suits our playing style well and she will play an important role for us this season.

"We can't wait to see her back out on the pitch."

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